As part of its ongoing programs to modernize and renew the surface fleet, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has reportedly commissioned its second Type 054B stealth frigate. This information comes following the participation of the vessel, named Qinzhou (555), in recent naval exercises conducted by the PLAN in the South China Sea. During these drills, the crew of the new vessel trained alongside other units of the fleet as part of their integration and operational readiness process.
According to available information, during the exercises the Qinzhou conducted a range of activities, including live-fire drills against naval targets using its main gun and close-in weapon systems (CIWS) equipped with 30mm rotary cannons.
The Qinzhou is the second vessel of the new class of 5,000-ton displacement stealth frigates being introduced to strengthen China’s maritime power projection capabilities. These modern platforms represent a significant improvement over the earlier Type 054A class, which displaces around 4,000 tons when fully loaded. Among the notable upgrades in the Type 054B are a new S-band active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, a 32-cell vertical launch system (VLS), and the capability to fire YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missiles, along with a 100mm naval gun.
The first Type 054B frigate, named Luòhé (545), was commissioned at a naval port in Qingdao, Shandong Province, on January 22. The second vessel, Qinzhou, was first sighted in mid-February at an undisclosed location after being presented by the South Sea Fleet in late January, which experts interpreted as the beginning of its sea trials.
In the following months, there were several indications that Qinzhou was nearing full operational status. In mid-April, promotional images released by Chinese state media showed, for the first time, a frigate identical in design to the Luòhé, bearing the hull number 555. A recent official report has now confirmed the vessel’s name, and it is widely assumed that it has been incorporated into the South Sea Fleet and has begun initial deployments.
The Type 054B is not only capable of anti-submarine, anti-ship, and air defense missions, but it also benefits from a cost-effective design made possible by the integration of new technologies. This enables rapid mass production, giving the PLAN the potential to field additional units in the near future in response to evolving regional threats. Although this has not yet been officially confirmed, the apparent induction of the Qinzhou is seen by the OSINT (open-source intelligence) community as further evidence of the speed with which China is advancing the development and sophistication of its naval industry. As with the earlier Type 054A class, it is likely that the PLAN will issue follow-on orders for additional vessels of the Type 054B.
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