Type 053H3 (Jiangwei-II Class) Missile Frigate

The Type 053H3 (NATO reporting name: Jiangwei-II class) is the multirole missile frigate introduced in the 1990s as a follow-on to the Type 053H2G (Jiangwei-I Class). The Type 053H3 was based on the hull design of the Type 053H2G, but fitted with new weapon systems and sensors. Despite being known as a ‘multirole frigate’ in the PLA Navy, the 2,400t Type 053 is mainly intended for coastal patrol role, and its air defence and anti-submarine warfare capabilities are both very limited.

Construction of the first-of-class began at the Shanghai-based Hudong Shipyard in 1998, and the production was later expanded to the Guangzhou-based Huangpu Shipyard. A total of 10 ships (521~524, 527, 528, 564~567) were built for the PLA Navy between 1998 and 2005, with the last three hulls (567, 527, and 528) slightly different in weapon and radar configurations.

Missiles

The primary surface strike weapon system is the YJ-83 sea-skimming anti-ship cruise missile. Two quadruple launchers are installed at the mid-ship position. The missile uses active radar-homing to deliver a 165kg warhead to a range in excess of 180km.

The main air defence weapon is an 8-cell HongQi-7 (French Thales Crotale copy) short-range SAM system, designed to engage aircraft in all-weather, day/night conditions at a maximum range of 8~12km with line-of-sight guidance. The missile also has limited capability to intercept sea-skimming anti-ship missiles at a much closer range (4~6km).

Guns

A Type 79A (PJ-33) dual-barrel 100mm/56-calibre gun is installed on the bow deck, in front of the SAM launcher. The gun is capable of firing 15kg shells at a rate of 18 rounds per minute to a range of 22km.

For air defence the frigate is equipped with four Type 76A dual-37mm anti-aircraft artillery guns, capable of firing 1.42kg shells at a rate of 180 rounds per minute to a range of 8.5km against airborne targets.

There are two Type 87 six-tube anti-submarine rocket launchers installed on the bow deck, with 36 rockets (240mm calibre, 34kg warhead). The maximum range is 1,200m.

Sensors

Air/surface search is provided by a Type 360 2D radar mounted on top of the main mask. The radar operates at E/F-band, with a maximum range of 150km to aircraft and 50km to sea-skimming missile. There is also a Type 517H-2 (Knife Rest) radar working at A-band to provide long-range air surveillance and early warning.

The frigate is equipped with a single aft Type 341 (Rice Lamp, I/J-band) or Type 347G (Rice Bowl, I-band) (12km to aircraft and 6km to anti-ship missile) for the four dual-37mm AAA guns, a Type 345 (J-band) for the HQ-7 SAM, and a Type 343GA or Type 344 (I/J-band) for the YJ-83 SSM and the dual-100mm main gun. The frigate has a JM-83H electro-optial tracker in case of electronic jamming of the gun radar.

For navigation, the frigate has two RM-1290 (Racal Decca 1290) navigation radars located on the foremast yardarms.

Electronic Countermeasures

The ship's electronic warfare suite include the RWD-8 Jug Pair intercept, Type 981-3 jammer, SR-210 radar warning receiver, TM-053 laser warning receiver, HZ-100 electronic intelligence (ELINT) system, Type 651A IFF, and two Type 945-I/946/PJ-46 15-barrel chaff/decoy rocket launchers.

Command & Control

The Type 053H3 is fitted with an indigenous ZJK-2 combat data system developed from the French TAVITAC. The system is based on the 10Mbps common bus architecture, and is capable of supporting operations such as air defence, anti-submarine warfare, electronic warfare, navigation, and communications.

Aviation

The helicopter deck at the stern has a single landing spot for a medium size helicopter, such as the Eurocopter AS 365 Panther or its Chinese copy Harbin Z-9C. The deck is fitted with the helicopter handling system.

Propulsion

The frigate is powered by a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) arrangement, with two 18E390VA diesels rated at 14,000 hp (17.6 kW) and two MTU diesels rated at 8,840 hp (6.5 MW). Two shafts drive controllable pitch propellers. The propulsion system provides a maximum speed of 26~27 knots and, at a economical speed of 15 knots, the range is 5,000 nautical miles.

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Last update: 26 February 2009