Type 053H2G/H3 Jiangwei Class Missile Frigate

	Information Type 053H2G/3 Specifications

Last updated: 22 June 2007

The Type 053H2G (NATO codename: Jiangwei class) and the subsequent Type 053H3 (NATO codename: Jiangwei-II class) are the multirole missile frigates introduced by the PLA Navy in the 1990s as successors to its Type 053H (Jianghu class) frigates. The PLA Navy’s first real ‘multirole’ frigates equipped with air defence missile and shipborne helicopter, the Jiangwei class represented a significant improvement over the previous Chinese-built frigates in terms of performance and capabilities. A total of 14 hulls were constructed between 1988 and 2006.

Shanghai-based Hudong Shipyard (now Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard) began to construct four Type 052H2G missile frigates for the PLA Navy in the late 1980s, with the first-of-class launched in June 1990. Between 1988 and 1994, a total of four hulls (539~542) were constructed under the Type 053H2G standard, equipped with a six-cell HQ-61 air defence missile system and six YJ-8 anti-ship missiles. The last hull was commissioned in July 1994.

In 1998, an improved variant designated Type 053H3 by the PLA Navy began construction at Hudong Shipyard in 1998, and the production was later expanded to Huangpu Shipyard in Guangzhou. Codenamed by Western intelligence as Jiangwei-II class, this variant featured improved systems, including a 8-cell HQ-7 air defence missile system and eight improved YJ-83 anti-ship missiles. 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.

The Jiangwei class is a versatile combatant, effective for a range of missions including coastal patrol, surface strike, antisubmarine warfare, and other general duties in offshore waters. The ship bears limited capability to operate in ‘blue-water’ but lacks long-range air defence means against airborne threats. The production of the Jiangwei class ceased in 2004 and was replaced by the much larger and more capable Type 054 Jiangkai class.

Weapon Systems

Sensors

Electronic Countermeasures

The ship's electronic warfare suite include the RWD-8 Jug Pair intercept, Type 981-3 jammer, SR-210 radar warning receiver, Type 651A IFF, and two Mk-36RBOC 6-barrel chaff/decoy rocket launchers (two indigenous Type 946/PJ-46 15-barrel launchers on the Jiangwei-II class).

Command & Control

The Type 053H3 Jiangwei-II class is fitted with an indigenous ZJK-2 combat data system to connect various weapons and sensors onboard. 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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