The first of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)’s new Type 054B stealth frigates, Luohe (545), took part in its first official exercise in the Yellow Sea. It is worth noting that nearly two months ago, this 5,000-ton displacement vessel was commissioned into service in late January during an official ceremony held at the port of Qingdao, home to the North Sea Fleet (also referred to as the “Northern Theater Command Navy”).
This first Type 054B stealth frigate is part of China’s ongoing efforts to equip the PLAN with more capable warships. Specifically, Luohe (545) is based on the design of the Type 054A frigates but incorporates technology from the new Type 055 destroyers. It was launched in October 2023 and underwent harbor and sea trials in the months that followed until its delivery. A key feature of this new vessel is the inclusion of a new S-band AESA radar, a 32-cell vertical launch system for missiles, the ability to fire YJ-12 supersonic missiles, and a 100mm naval gun.
Considering this, the vessel’s participation in the exercise is part of its integration process into the PLAN’s surface fleet. Some of the drills carried out included VBSS (visit, board, search, and seizure) operations, navigation under simulated complex weather conditions, as well as search and rescue tasks. The exercise also involved the replenishment ship Dongpinghu and the destroyer Xining.
It is worth noting that the recent exercises involving Luohe are considered part of the milestones necessary for the new-design frigate to reach Initial Operational Capability, a phase that all newly built warships must go through. Experts believe that the new Type 054B frigate is still undergoing various tests to finetune its sensor, combat, and weapons systems while also familiarizing the crew with the new platform.
Finally, available information also indicates progress in the sea trials of a second Type 054B frigate. In mid-February, Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) sources reported that the Chinese Navy had begun sea trials at an undisclosed location. These trials include evaluations of various onboard systems. Given the short timeframe between the presentation and commissioning of the first unit, it is expected that the second frigate will follow a similar timeline. It is also likely that, just as with the Type 054A frigates, the Chinese Navy will place additional construction orders for more units.
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