Type 054A FFG News & Discussions

Aamir Hussain · Jul 5, 2020

samsara said:
Some cool itemized information about the Type 054A FFG. Anyhow it's good for refreshing one's own memory (Note, the amplification is mine, as well those under square brackets)

With appreciation to ILikeChina/SDF:

The Type 054A FFG was [once] the best anti-submarine warfare (ASW) vessel in PLA Navy service when I think (pop3) wrote these specifications. The Type 055 was not [yet] in service at that time. So better than the Type 052D, in that case, what may be the successor for Type 054A is Type 054B.

054A is the most capable ASW vessel in PLAN service

Construction on lead ship began in late 2003

Normal displacement 3,600 tonnes

Top speed greater than 27 knots

Diesel propulsion units are mounted on vibration isolators

Diesel generators are mounted on dual-layered vibration isolators, all wrapped within an acoustic shroud

The ship has three standard sailing modes, one of which is the silent mode for use during ASW operations

Sailing speed during ASW operations is at or below cruising speed, which is much lower than the top speed

Sensor suite includes Type 307 bow sonar, Type 206 TAS (towed array sonar), Type 064 communications sonar, Type 707A acoustic field analyser, and Type 723 vessel surroundings monitoring sonar

Type 206's max detection range is greater than 65km and max targeting range is greater than 60km, can operate in conditions up to and including sea state 5, and possesses detection capability of enemy torpedoes at ranges exceeding 10km

Newer iterations have upgraded sensors including Type 311 TAS, Type 066 communications sonar, etc

054A is equipped with two sets of WHH003A 6-tube ASW rocket launchers with max range of 3130m and attack depth of 300m, used for attacking close submarines and intercepting torpedoes

Each side of the ship is equipped with a VJQ-004B triple-tube torpedo-launcher, capable of firing Yu-7/A/B/C torpedoes with ranges of around 10km

Yu-8 ASROC [for "Anti-Submarine ROCket"] has max range greater than 50km

Yu-8 project commissioned in 2002 and achieved design certification by 2006

Z-9C ASW helicopter has operating radius of 50km, Ka-28's is 200km

054A is equipped with SJK-562 torpedo-defence system, consisting of the Type 231 torpedo-approach warning and tracking system, Type 576A acoustic decoy, Type 578 rocket-launched acoustic decoy, Type 579 rocket-launched jammer, and the aforementioned WHH003A hard-kill system

The PLAN is nowhere near as behind in ASW as commonly believed by many Western commentators and have commissioned dedicated ASW vessels, Type 927 [acoustic surveillance ship]

There is still a gap between the PLAN and leading ASW powers but that gap mostly exists due to insufficient ASW fixed-wing aircraft, which the PLAN is already in the process of remedying

All concrete figures given by pop3 are for systems that are being phased out, which is the only reason he was willing to give out those figures in the first place

Many thanks for the info. It would be greatly helpful if you can include the specifications of the sensors. I have tried to look for them on the net but the designations keep on changing some of the ones i can find I have listed them:

Type 307 bow mounted sonar (Copy of Russian hull mounted MGK-335EM-03 Vesta-K sonar) Cant find specification Vesta-K!!

Type 206 Low Frequency Towed Array Sonar or H/SJG 206: Max detection range is greater than 65km and max targeting range is greater than 60km, can operate in conditions up to and including sea state 5, and possesses detection capability of enemy torpedoes at ranges exceeding 10km
My input and findings:
TLAS-1 sonar (sometimes referred to as the export version of the H/SJG 206 which is itself developed from Raytheon/Whitehead Alenia DE-116 Sonar working in 7.6KHz range) is the first Chinese towed array with a range of up to 45 km. This passive low frequency sonar is able to simultaneously tracking 5 targets, with a bearing accuracy of 4 degrees, and it shares the same operator console as ESS-2 Hull Mounted Sonar. This is a light towed system designed for smaller surface combatant. Could not find much on ESS-2

Type 064 communications Sonar (SQX-1?)
H/SQX-1 sonar is a communication sonar for underwater communications, with the transducer reportedly designed as Type 063. Could not find anything on Type 64!

Type 707A Acoustic Field Analyzer: Could not find anything

Type 723 Vessel Surroundings Monitoring Sonar: Could not find anything

Type 311 TAS: Could not find anything

Type 66 Communications sonar: Could not find anything

So if you could help out. it would be great to build a picture what will be installed on the Type 54A/P