Who is SOYO and what is his credibility/track record?
Well, I certainly wouldn't mind having slightly more SAMs on next-gen FFGs, given the scale and severity of aerial threats that PLAN surface warships can certainly expect to face in a high-intensity WestPac conflict. There's also the recent lesson from the Red Sea to take into account.
I would still hope for future frigates to be more independent, while there isn't much need to over arm these ships there should hopefully be some long-range SAM.Frigates are going to take heavy casualties in any high-intensity conflict just by their nature and positioning. All the more reason to put your eggs in more baskets instead of fewer. Nor would I look towards expeditionary deployments like the Red Sea as any model for PLAN activities. If anything, the main lesson from the Red Sea is to add more low-tier air defenses against low-level munitions, but that's not a lesson PLAN should be learning at this stage given their drastically different use cases.
I would still hope for future frigates to be more independent, while there isn't much need to over arm these ships there should hopefully be some long-range SAM.
I am not sure if that is a warship. Another picture I took couple weeks ago.View attachment 164496
New ship construction next to the 076, possibly the new frigate? It's seems too wide for 054 series.
Looks strange, so IMO might be civilian ship?I am not sure if that is a warship. Another picture I took couple weeks ago.
Well, I certainly wouldn't mind having slightly more SAMs on next-gen FFGs, given the scale and severity of aerial threats that PLAN surface warships can certainly expect to face in a high-intensity WestPac conflict. There's also the recent lesson from the Red Sea to take into account.
Would HHQ-16 really be sufficient for self-defense and escort? IMO, to be future proof you need some sort of medium-long range or even long-range SAM to provide protection from future threats. 32 850mm VLS or whatever new standard VLS (950mm?) should be sufficient in my opinion. Larger VLS can also provide the option to use larger ASW weapons.The main role of a FFG would be to aggressively prosecute and protect from submarines.
Given the risk involved in this, you want to use a ship which is as expendable as possible.
So you want it to be small, cheap and with fewer crew - which also makes the FFG an unattractive target.
1. As part of a frontline CSG or SAG, a FFG can rely on SAMs from accompanying destroyers or air cover
2. For rear-area operations, 32 SAMs should be sufficient for self-protection and convoy escort