Type 054A frigate 3D model

The Type 054 was heavily influenced by the La Fayette-class frigate from France, and so reflected the strategic and operational requirements of that country. The development of the Type 054A may have been driven by China's need to address high-intensity armed conflict.[11]

The Type 054A uses the same stealthy hull form as the Type 054.[5] The forward launcher for HQ-7 short-range SAM[12] is replaced with a 32-cell vertical launching system[4] for medium-range HHQ-16 SAMs and Yu-8 antisubmarine rockets.[5] The smaller main gun and Type 730 close-in weapon system (CIWS) are also installed.[4]

The radar suite makes use of technology reverse engineered from Russian systems; the affected Chinese systems may include the H/LJQ-382 air search radar (from the Fregat MAE-3) and the H/LJQ-366 fire control radar (from the Mineral ME).[13][14][5] The HHQ-16 target illuminators may also be derived from the Russian MR-90.[15][14][5]

Ships starting with the 17th unit were constructed with enhanced anti-submarine warfare capability - adding variable depth and towed array sonar - and the Type 1130 CIWS instead of the Type 730.[5][16] These ships have been unofficially referred to as Type 054A+, Type 054A2, or modified Jiangkai II.[5]

In 2015, Gabe Collins estimated that each ship cost US$348 million

Type FrigateDisplacement 3,963 tonnes (full)[4]Length 134 m (440 ft)[4]Beam 16 m (52 ft)[4]Draught 5 m (16 ft)Propulsion CODAD, 4 × SEMT Peilstick 16 PA 6V 280 STC diesels, 20.7 MW (28,200 hp) total, 2 shafts[4]Speed 27 knots[4]Range 3,800 nautical miles (4,400 mi; 7,000 km) estimated at 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)[4]Sensors andprocessing systems
Type 382 RadarType 344 Radar (Mineral-ME Band Stand) target acquisition and SSM fire control radar4 × MR-90 Front Dome SAM fire control radarsMR-36A surface search radar, I-bandType 347G 76 mm gun fire control radar2 × Racal RM-1290 navigation radars, I-bandMGK-335 medium frequency active/passive sonar systemH/SJG-206 towed array sonarZKJ-4B/6 (developed from Thomson-CSF TAVITAC) combat data systemHN-900 Data link (Chinese equivalent of Link 11A/B, to be upgraded)SNTI-240 SATCOMAKD5000S Ku band SATCOMElectronic warfare& decoys
Type 922-1 radar warning receiverHZ-100 ECM & ELINT systemKashtan-3 missile jamming systemArmament
1 × 32-cell VLSHQ-16 SAMYu-8 anti submarine rocket launcher2 × 4 YJ-83 anti-ship missiles1 × PJ26 76 mm dual purpose gun2 × Type 730 7-barrel 30 mm CIWS guns or Type 11302 × 3 324mm Yu-7 ASW torpedo launchers2 × 6 Type 87 240mm anti-submarine rocket launcher (36 rockets carried)2 × Type 726-4 18-tube decoy rocket launchersAircraft carried 1 Kamov Ka-28 'Helix' or Harbin Z-9CAviation facilities hangar