I can see the hull being lengthened but not widened. The hull needs to fit on dry docks, which are not getting wider. While existing sections of the ship can be retained, others can be changed. For example the section ahead of the superstructure that holds the VLS. Perhaps a longer section that holds 32 U-VLS instead. Another section that can be changed is the mid section where the antiship missiles sit on top. Maybe that is changed for one that holds a few U-VLS. Yet another section that can be changed is the aft section that has the hanger and the helicopter deck. To handle the increased weight and loads you put more powerful diesel engines though you retain the basic outline of four main diesel power plants. It won't be a 054X anymore if you changed the basic engine configuration.
054B/next generation frigate
- Thread starter Blitzo
- Start date
I can see the hull being lengthened but not widened. The hull needs to fit on dry docks, which are not getting wider. While existing sections of the ship can be retained, others can be changed. For example the section ahead of the superstructure that holds the VLS. Perhaps a longer section that holds 32 U-VLS instead. Another section that can be changed is the mid section where the antiship missiles sit on top. Maybe that is changed for one that holds a few U-VLS. Yet another section that can be changed is the aft section that has the hanger and the helicopter deck. To handle the increased weight and loads you put more powerful diesel engines though you retain the basic outline of four main diesel power plants. It won't be a 054X anymore if you changed the basic engine configuration.
At this stage we really don't know how exactly it will look, but the hull is likely to be evolved from 054/A. A slightly longer hull is very likely. It is unlikely to be significantly widened, but depending on what part of the hull it is, selected parts of the beam may be a bit wider.
This is my personal vision for what a viable 054B hullform could look like, posted a few pages ago.
Self explanatory.
The 4 in HD and 8 in HP statement seems to be an answer about how many 054As of the 20 originally ordered will be built -- i.e.: 4 of the 20 will be built in HD, 8 of the 20 will be built in HP.
We don't know how many 054Bs will be built in this batch.
Right, I think the post is saying that 8 will be cancelled, meaning 12 054As should be built.
I think what is meant is the original contract of 20 frigates are retained, but instead of 20 054A, you have 12 054A and 8 054B. It is very likely that 054B still uses sections and modules of the 054A, and therefore production of theses shared modules between the two ships are likely to continue, with the contract modified to build 054B specific sections and modules.
Its very similar to a fan art I have seen, but then, this fan art could have already been based on rumors and leaks. Furthermore, a fan art could be rational extrapolation of already known and shown sensors, then put two and two together with known PLAN style builds and reasonable tactical placement of these sensors.
As such we already expect it would use the dual sided AESA on the main mast, with the main mast contoured to the angles of the radar to reduce radar cross section. This serves as the Type 382 Sea Eagle replacement. Note that the Type 382, aka Sino-Fregat, is a dual sided search radar.
The second mast has the smaller, higher frequency dual sided AESA first introduced on the Type 075. We believe this to be the Type 364 surface search radar replacement, acting in concert with the larger dual sided. As in the Type 075, the two radars operate together, just as the 382 and 364 work on the 054A. In the Type 075, the larger dual sided radar does not appear to be ready, so the older and venerable Type 382 is used instead. In the next batch of 075, I expect the Type 382 to give way to the large dual sided AESA when that radar becomes PLAN approved.
Not clear and not shown are the new AESA target illuminators for the HQ-16, but I expect two to be embedded into the corners of the superstructure and two at the corners of the hanger. I expect that the rear mast may have the CEC arrays embedded on them.
The coin does not reflect changes to the CIWS and the gunnery fire control radar, so the artwork itself may already be obsolete. As we have seen with the 003 Fujian, a new AESA or PESA fire control radar has replaced the Type 347G in one of the CIWS, which suggests a forthcoming general replacement of the venerable Type 347G used as both the CIWS and the main gunnery fire control radar across the fleet.
Reliable or not, it's currently the most realistic and logical based on the current palette of PLAN sensors we have seen and defensive systems at least in my opinion. I have seen this design in some fan art, but that design would already be obvious to people given all the pieces that's already out. Plenty of tailwind from given Lego pieces.
