A Chinese Type 054B warship, the country's first new-generation stealth frigate, made its live-fire combat training debut in the Yellow Sea recently, state media reported.
Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email.
Why It Matters
China has the largest naval force in the world by hull count, the Pentagon assessed in its latest report on Chinese military power, with more than 370 ships and submarines in service, seeking to challenge America's naval dominance in the Western Pacific Ocean.
The first 5,000-ton Type 054B frigate, CNS Luohe, was commissioned in late January. It is designed with advanced stealth technology, combat command systems and firepower integration, the Chinese state media said, enhancing the warship's performance.
The Luohe is one of the newest warships China put into service. It launched its first new-generation amphibious assault ship, the Type 076 CNS Sichuan, in December, featuring a catapult system that supports the flight operations of fixed-wing aircraft.
What To Know
The Luohe took part in the training on March 13, firing its guns at an undisclosed location in the Yellow Sea, footage released by China Central Television shows. It also refueled at sea during its first public appearance since commissioning, the Global Times reported.
According to the Global Times, the training, which involved a combat support ship detachment assigned to the Chinese Northern Theater Command, included maritime boarding, navigating under simulated complex weather conditions, as well as search and rescue.
"The new equipment brought new challenges and new missions to us," said Song Wei, a Luohe crew member, adding that this is the crew's responsibility for "speeding up" the formation of the first Type 054B frigate's combat capabilities through live-fire training.
The new warship demonstrated what it called "an astounding speed of combat capability generation" by starting training exercises less than two months after being put into service, the Global Times noted, citing Chinese military affairs expert Wang Yunfei.
Destroyers and frigates typically require a year to reach initial operational capability by undergoing various basic training exercises, Wang added. It is expected that the Luohe, the first hull in its class, will take less than two years to reach full operational capability.
Based on official footage released previously, the Luohe is equipped with 40 missile launchers for air defense and anti-ship missions, in addition to a main gun. It is expected that the Type 054B frigate will succeed its predecessor, the Type 054A frigate.
What People Are Saying
Alex Luck, Australia-based naval analyst, wrote for specialist outlet Naval News on January 22: "The Type 054B is a completely new design from the keel up...Further hulls may only commence construction once PLAN [People's Liberation Army Navy] has tested the first two frigates and considered possible improvements or adaptions to the design."
The Pentagon, in its Chinese military power report on December 18, 2024: "These assets [Type 054B frigate and other new warships] will significantly upgrade the PLAN's air defense, anti-ship, and anti-submarine capabilities and will be critical as the PLAN expands its operations beyond the range of the PLA's shore-based air defense systems."
What Happens Next
The Pentagon said China is engaged in what it called a "robust shipbuilding program" for warships. It remains to be seen how many Type 054B frigates will be constructed for the Chinese navy to expand its reach and presence in and beyond the Western Pacific Ocean.
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This story was originally published March 19, 2025 at 11:53 AM.