054/A FFG Thread II

joshuatree

Captain
Type 25T was an enlarged version of 053. Bigger in all dimensions. Wonder if the design can be revived, packed with 054A subsystems, for export to Pakistan.

Nothing's impossible but the question would be feasibility. How many would Pakistan procure to make the effort worthwhile? If anything, it may be more practical to design an enlarged type 056A which could be a platform the Chinese navy would procure as well to beef up ASW capability. It would also be a decent export platform to many other navies that don't require or have the means to field larger units - South America, Africa, Mideast. Then that R&D cost can be spread out more.


I think you misunderstand the situation. Thais probably wanted 054A hull without the subsystems. Look at the HTMS Naresuan, a 053 hull filled with Western subsystems.

That's pretty much the situation. When pitching a frigate for sale, it's really the customer that dictates what the specs are. Without the Chinese subsystems, an 054A hull is essentially the same as an 054 hull which is why the report is China pitching 054 hull to the Thais. Looking from the Thai's POV, it wouldn't make sense for them to fragment their assets with different subsystems.
 

duskylim

Junior Member
VIP Professional
Those frigates are very nice frigates and representative what a country like Thailand can do wih the vessels that were provided to them and then when they placed more capable "sub-systems" on them.

A Type 54 frigate, with its stealthier charcteristics, and larger size could do very well if provided as is and then outfitted with similar more modern and more capable sub-systems like they did for the Naresuan and her sister, Taksin.

Those vessels, which are baically modified Type 053 vessels, have a 5" (127mm) gun added, an 8-cell Mk-41 added for 32 ESSM missiles, two quad cannister Harpoons added, and fly a Lynx helo off of them. Not to mention their propulsion.

Those characteristics make those frigates as powerful as most modern frigates from any other nation. Even though they are basically a Type 053, they sure do not look like it:

Thailand's Type 25T (see the larger deck house, basically crossing the entire width of the vessel and with the additional sensors):

HTMS_Naresuan_in_Hong_Kong.JPG

PLANs Type 053H3G (Jiangwei III)

5261.jpg

As the guy from Laugh-In said: "Very interesting".

IIRC Thailand had previously ordered older Mao-era design frigates (derived from Soviet Riga class?).

Those were not very good ships and the Thai's let everyone who would listen know about it.

Looking at the Type 25T mounting the US 5-inch gun suggests that the hull is strong enough to take the stress of this weapon.

Correct me if I am wrong but some of the radar systems (particularly the fire control radars) look like they might be Chinese systems.

At the rear are those Chinese 37 mm guns or Oerlikons?

This suggests that in some instances the ships were both structurally sound and some Chinese systems were ultimately used by the Thais.
 

asif iqbal

Lieutenant General
Great work!

Without doubt we can expect the 18th and 19th units being launched this year also, also if there is a 20th unit we will expect to see it soon

What a massive run it's been for Type 054A, I remember we thought it would stop at like a dozen units then 16 then 18 and now almost it's 20

Depends how much work HP and HD are doing with Type 056 and cutters, but still they are squeezing the production of the Type 054A in which is very encouraging
 

timepass

Brigadier
IMO 054A numbers will touch to 22 + 2 054s to complement 6 FFG flotillas, 2 each for SSF/ESF/NSF.

Then, I think PLAN will move to 054B or maybe a new designation with expected production start in 2014 & numbers will touch to 12 to complement 3 FFG flotillas 1 each for SSF/NSF/ESF.

Means each fleet will have 2 FFG flotillas of 054A & 1 FFG flotilla of 054B or new type (36 ultar modern FFGs).
 

asif iqbal

Lieutenant General
IMO 054A numbers will touch to 22 + 2 054s to complement 6 FFG flotillas, 2 each for SSF/ESF/NSF.

Then, I think PLAN will move to 054B or maybe a new designation with expected production start in 2014 & numbers will touch to 12 to complement 3 FFG flotillas 1 each for SSF/NSF/ESF.

Means each fleet will have 2 FFG flotillas of 054A & 1 FFG flotilla of 054B or new type (36 ultar modern FFGs).

Certainly the way to think, but we never know, when they were building 150-153 we thought that 172 and 173 will be C7 and C8, then bang, all of a sudden they were infact D1 and D2

We never know when China can slip into Type 054B, it could be next two inside the shelters
 
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