Pop3 wrote 054A will continue to be in batch production, in 2 digit quantity; 054B will also be started soon.
The continue production of later variants of 054A (likely with improved features) may indicate that the new revolutionary technology for type 054B will need to prove its effectiveness in real operations at seas, as such continue production later variants of 054A is more like an insurance incase the new tech on 054B does not worked as expected. Take US example, after building Zumwalt class large DDG, USN planned continue to build AB flight III class DDG.
When the new technology is too revolutionary, it may not work as expected, or the cost is simply too high.
Therefor we might see in near future that both 054A+? and 054B will be built at the same time, which is what Pop3 was writing. If 054B has problems it may take few years to solve, then 054A's continue production can avoid gaps in new ships replacing those old type 053 (around 16-17 ships).
It would have to be pretty rad if you are planning to keep a proven tech alternative.
Raises the certainty of IPS, intensive use of AESA, new electronics systems, and so on.
Radical cases vs. Insurance Cases with PLAN over the years
Type 051B vs. Project 956E
Type 052C vs. 956EM, 051C, 052B
Type 052D vs. Second Batch 052C
Type 055 vs. Second and Third batch 052D
Last four Type 054A has features not present in earlier batches.
--- Shift to Type 1130 use instead of 730
--- Modified ESM near top of the mast.
--- ECCM "skirt" around Type 364 radar
--- Changing ECM unit to Type 726-3 ECM. 054A has used a unique ECM unit that is non standard with the rest of the fleet. This change brings the ECM to the same standard used with the destroyers.
--- New SATCOM design. This new SATCOM design was actually first featured with 053H3 refits, which were also the first frigates to use 726-3 ECM units.
Hoping to see new radars on the next 054A batch.
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