Recently, the South Sea Fleet of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) released a new image of the second Type 054B stealth frigate, which began its sea and systems trials earlier this year. The image, published through various promotional posters, was part of the celebration marking the 76th anniversary of the founding of the PLAN.
Currently, the Type 054B frigates of the People’s Liberation Army Navy stand out as one of the most modern classes of combat vessels in service with the Asian Giant’s fleet. While public information on the class remains limited, it has been confirmed that the new frigates have a displacement of around 5,000 tons—an increase over the Type 054A frigates, which have a full-load displacement of nearly 4,000 tons. Notable features of the class include a new AESA radar operating in the S-band, a 32-cell vertical launch missile system (VLS), capability to fire YJ-12 supersonic missiles, and a 100mm naval gun.
The first unit, named Luòhé (545), was officially commissioned in January at the Qingdao naval base, home to the North Sea Fleet. Built by the Huangpu-Wenchong shipyard in Guangzhou and launched in 2023, it began sea trials in late January 2024, according to Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) reports. The second unit, which has not yet received an official name, was observed sailing in an undisclosed location in mid-February, following its presentation by the South Sea Fleet in late January—experts noted this marked the beginning of its sea trials.
Now, several months later and on the eve of the PLAN’s 76th anniversary, China has released a series of promotional images showing the second Type 054B frigate. The ship appears to share an identical design with the Luòhé, and bears the hull number 555, suggesting its direct succession.
In conclusion, the development and induction of the Type 054B frigates by the People’s Liberation Army Navy reflects the growing need for a new generation of technologically advanced platforms capable of operating in complex maritime environments and accompanying combat groups in distant waters. Thanks to their stealth features, extended range, and integrated command and control systems, these frigates not only represent an evolution of the Type 054A class, but also embody a sustained policy of naval modernization and expansion aimed at safeguarding China’s maritime interests.
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Perhaps we should buy a couple for our Navy.