054/A FFG Thread II

[Tam]

New Type 054A, if its a pair, then its ships used as platforms to test new equipment.

My hypothesis and imagination is Type 054A modified with new radars, the fore top mast with the dual sided radar you see on Test ship 892, the back radar, is the one you see on the Type 075.

Originally, I was hoping they would use the pair of 054, or the pair of 052B, for this testing purpose.

But more than a stepping stone to 054B/057, I suspect this is also intended as a template for Type 054A midlife upgrade. I would think the 054 and 052B MLU would also follow this template.

 

[Red Moon]

New Type 054A, if its a pair, then its ships used as platforms to test new equipment.

My hypothesis and imagination is Type 054A modified with new radars, the fore top mast with the dual sided radar you see on Test ship 892, the back radar, is the one you see on the Type 075.

Originally, I was hoping they would use the pair of 054, or the pair of 052B, for this testing purpose.

But more than a stepping stone to 054B/057, I suspect this is also intended as a template for Type 054A midlife upgrade. I would think the 054 and 052B MLU would also follow this template.

But have new ships been used to "test new equipment" before? What if the test is not successful? Isn't that what the test ships are for? To me, the appearance of the new radars on these ships would signify that the testing is already complete. I don't know about the 053H3's mentioned by @lcloo above, but I don't remember that being true with the new 052C's spotted around the 2010 period, when new stuff was also being tested for the 052D. Not coincidentally, I think, the 2009-10 periods also had increased tension.

 

[lcloo]

But have new ships been used to "test new equipment" before? What if the test is not successful? Isn't that what the test ships are for? To me, the appearance of the new radars on these ships would signify that the testing is already complete. I don't know about the 053H3's mentioned by @lcloo above, but I don't remember that being true with the new 052C's spotted around the 2010 period, when new stuff was also being tested for the 052D. Not coincidentally, I think, the 2009-10 periods also had increased tension.

Regarding the 2 type 053H3, namely pennant number 527 and 528 (launched in May and August 2004). These two were built after type 054 pennant number 525 and 526 (launched Sept and Nov 2003).

Building of Type 054 stopped at 2 ships, followed by two type 053H3. Thereafter 30 of the improved type 054A were built in 2 batches (lead ship pennant number 530 was launched on 2006 Sept 30, commissioned in 2008 January).

 

[foxmulder]

Hah.. after all this discussion we are going to see 054B instead of a 057. Well not that surprising, China likes to have multiple routes, high risk+low risk.

 

[Tam]

But have new ships been used to "test new equipment" before? What if the test is not successful? Isn't that what the test ships are for? To me, the appearance of the new radars on these ships would signify that the testing is already complete. I don't know about the 053H3's mentioned by @lcloo above, but I don't remember that being true with the new 052C's spotted around the 2010 period, when new stuff was also being tested for the 052D. Not coincidentally, I think, the 2009-10 periods also had increased tension.

I am assuming both these radars are going to be the subject of the upgrade, both as the 054B and as a potential future MLU to the 054A. The large one will be on the center mast and will be the main long range search radar while the smaller one acts as the medium range faster tracking higher frequency radar.




The first one is already installed on the Type 075. That means its been tested and approved. It could have been tested on one of the test ships before in the past but no one failed to photograph it.

If they are planning to put the new radar (large dual side) that was on the 892 test ship, on a 054A platform, that means this new radar has already passed one phase of the testing and is ready to proceed to the next one.

Both these radars have only been tested individually, and now they are on the same ship together, which means you can see how both pieces can work together, as well as working with the new combat data systems, which has to be much newer and updated from the one on the 054A

 

[Tam]

054A should be in three batches.

First batch with Type 730 CIWS. An example of the first batch, albeit this has seen modifications.



Second batch with Type 1130 CIWS and Type 726-3 ECM replacing Type 984(?) ECM. Type 726-3 ECM is the same ECM used on 052C, 052D, Liaoning, Shadong, so this can be a considerable upgrade. This is alleged to have better sonars.

Third batch has a new SATCOM antenna, enhancements in the ESM (Type 726-1, SJW-231?), and an array around the Type 364 on the aft mast. Not sure what this array is for but I suspect ECCM. It looks similar to the array installed on Frigate 529 but on a different location.



Individual ships are also used as test beds for various antenna and equipment, some unique and not duplicated on other ships, such as 529. Most 054A have also sprouted new antenna in their current form that wasn't seen before during their commissioning form. 571 here is an early 054A that has seen the top of the hanger becoming a jungle of arrays over time.



This picture shows third batch ship in the foreground, and a second batch ship immediately in the background. The changes are evident where the top ESM, the Type 364 and the new shape of the SATCOM.





Note the 053H3 in the back to the right. Another angle of the same scene.




Now you can see the 053H3 much more clearly. This is an upgraded unit. What it has is the same ECM unit used on the second and third batch 054A. Another thing to note is that the 053H3 is sporting the same SATCOM as the third batch 054A #542 does.

Also the upgraded ESM on both sides near the top of the mast, it has like a small crown or cap of over it. You also see this upgraded ESM appearing on the latest batch of 056A.

 

[Tam]

Second batch with Type 1130 CIWS and Type 726-3 ECM replacing Type 984(?) ECM. Type 726-3 ECM is the same ECM used on 052C, 052D, Liaoning, Shadong, so this can be a considerable upgrade. This is alleged to have better sonars.

Third batch has a new SATCOM antenna, enhancements in the ESM (Type 726-1, SJW-231?), and an array around the Type 364 on the aft mast. Not sure what this array is for but I suspect ECCM. It looks similar to the array installed on Frigate 529 but on a different location.

Going to revise this.

ZH Wiki has the Type 054A divided into four batches

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First batch of four ships has some physical differences in the bow?
Second batch has the same equipment as the first batch.

The 1130 CIWS did not appear until the third batch. The number of SATCOM antennas have gone up from two to three, but this can be a retrofit.

Final batch has new ECM unit + revised ESM unit + new SATCOM array + possible ECCM array.

 

[Bhurki]

Another type 054a replacement concept

 

[Tam]

I think that's an export only model, and I suspect this design was something the PLAN had already internally rejected. For what its worth I always thought it looked cool.

 

[ougoah]

Placement of CIWS seem carried over from 054A internal structures. It's not a good choice for placement but the 054's had this arrangement so they haven't done a ground up fresh design it seems? Or this just a modernised 054A while its replacement isn't shown.