Recently, some pictures of the latest model of China’s domestically produced type 054AE frigates appeared online. Compared with previous models, its combat capability has been significantly enhanced, which has improved the ship’s competitiveness in the international market.
According to the pictures, the biggest improvement of Type 054AE frigate is the addition of China’s latest domestically produced meter-wave active phased array radar on the hangar. As a result, Type 054AE frigate would have a stronger long-range alert capability, which can provide more comprehensive air information for ships and formations, and can also indicate air targets for the ship-borne HQ-16 ship-to-air missile. Previously, this radar was only equipped on Type 052D destroyer, and Type 054A frigate for China Navy was only equipped with three domestic Haiying S/C air defense radars.
In the Chinese Navy, Type 054A frigate ranks second among naval formations and does not require too much long-range alert capability, which is supposed to be accomplished by early warning aircraft and destroyers. But according to Xiao Feizhu, a military analyst, as a 4,000-ton frigate, Type 054AE frigate is often the main force of customer surface ships, occupying a central position in the formation.
For example, the Pakistan Navy regards Type 054AE frigate a command ship for its surface ship formation. This requires the ship to have strong long-range early warning and air detection capabilities.
On the other hand, in order to improve the ability to resist supersonic anti-ship missiles and saturation attacks, Type 054AE frigate replaced the Haiying S/C radar with an SR2410C active phased array radar. The SR2410C radar uses a two-dimensional electronic scanning system and the beam is pointed quickly; and after the target is detected, it can be quickly turned back for confirmation. However, its shortcoming is that it uses a needle beam and the detection range is relatively narrow. And it takes more time to scan a relatively wide airspace, and a long-range alert radar is required to cover a large range of airspace to provide target indication.
Now Type 054AE frigate is equipped with China’s latest generation of meter-wave active phased array radar. Its biggest feature is the use of a series of advanced technologies such as active phased array and digital processing, which has higher sensitivity and better detection performance, while the previous wave radar has the disadvantages of lower accuracy and poor low-altitude detection performance.
In addition, meter-wave radar has better anti-stealth performance and strong anti-interference ability, and cannot be attacked by anti-radiation missiles. In the new era, the number of stealthy targets on the battlefield is increasing, and electronic warfare is becoming more intense. So these advantages are even more valuable.
Type 054AE frigate will first use meter-wave active phased array radar for long-range alert on the future battlefield to detect incoming targets. The target position is then provided to the SR2410C radar, which detects the intended airspace. As the target position is predicted in advance, the radar can quickly find and lock the target, providing target indication and relay guidance for HQ 16 ship-to-air missile. In addition, meter-wave active phased array radar can obtain air condition information through data link to the early-warning aircraft and ground air defense command post to assist fighters in intercepting incoming air targets.
However, meter-wave active phased array radar equipment also puts higher requirements on Type 054AE frigate. Due to the addition of a large radar, the ship is required to provide more space. And as the phased array radar has a higher energy supply, the ship is required to provide more electricity. These would certainly increase the tonnage and cost of Type 054AE frigate. However, considering the advantages brought by the installation of meter-wave active phased array radar, these could still be acceptable.