China Reveals New Variant of Type 054A Frigate

China has brought a new variant of its Type 054A guided missile frigate into service with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, introducing heavier firepower and expanded aviation facilities.

State-controlled China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Monday that the frigate Linfen, hull number 543, is a newly built version of the Type 054A independently developed in China. Compared with earlier ships, the frigate features a longer flight deck and a larger hangar, enabling it to operate new types of shipborne helicopters and strengthening aviation-based anti-submarine warfare.

The extended deck allows the frigate to carry the larger Z-20 helicopter, which has a wider combat radius than the Z-9 used on earlier Type 054A ships, Chinese military analyst Zhang Junshe told the state-run Global Times. He said the Z-20 can detect and engage hostile submarines at greater distances from naval task groups.

The new variant also incorporates upgrades to its weapon systems. Gong Chao, a crew member of the Linfen, said in the CCTV report that the frigate is fitted with a larger-caliber main gun, providing increased firepower, longer strike range, and higher accuracy, improving its anti-surface warfare capability. He added that the ship features a more integrated weapon system, improved stealth performance, wider radar detection range, higher positioning accuracy, and stronger ability to operate in complex electromagnetic environments.

CCTV footage showed two Type 054A frigates berthed side by side at a naval port. One was identified as the Linfen, while the other carried hull number 580. Both ships seem to be the new variant of the Type 054A, equipped with 100mm main guns that are similar in appearance to the one used by the Type 054B frigate, the PLA Navy's new-generation frigate after the Type 054A.

China continues to build and upgrade Type 054A frigates alongside the development of the Type 054B. Zhang said the Type 054B has a larger displacement, longer range, and stronger stealth features, but this does not indicate an imminent replacement of the Type 054A. He said the two frigate classes are intended to operate together in coastal and far-seas missions, with the upgraded Type 054A retaining multirole capabilities including close-range maritime combat, land attack, and air defense.