Type 053H3 Jiangwei II class Frigates (1997)

Chinese PLAN (1997-2004)
Lianyungang, Jiaxing, Putian, Yichang, Huludao, Sanming, Xiangyang, Huaihua, Luoyang, Mianyang

In the 1980s, the PLA Navy ordered Hudong Shipyard in Shanghai, later Hudong-Zhonghua, to design a replacement for the Type 053K AA frigate. The new vessel would be based on the previous Type 053H2 frigate, and natural designation followed as H2G. Development Project 055 was the programme name. The Type 053H2G was slightly larger, and crucially, fitted with the new HQ-61B surface-to-air missiles (SAM). Tests of the later however proved soon disappointing, and the type was limited in production to four vessels only, still in service after modernizations.

The design bureau revised the plans with ended with a variant called the Type 053H3. It was an improved Type 053H2G fitted with the proven HQ-7 SAM. This was a Chinese-produced version of the French R330 Sea Crotale obtained back in the 1980s. Not many changes followed and in all, ten Frigates Type 053H3s were produced between 1996 and 2005.

Sanming (pennant #524) at anchor, she has been laid down at Guangzhou presumably, launched in December 1998 and completed in December 2000 for the East Sea Fleet.

Upgraded construction
Hudong Shipyard was trusted for the construction of the improved Jiangwei II in 1996, laid down three years after the launch of the last Jiangwei-I class #542 Tongling frigate. Both classes only differed in size and arrangement, which allowed to speed up construction time and found commonality reducing costs overall, including supply, maintenance and training. They however have upgraded radar and fire control systems. Their SSN capability was boosted by two more missiles of the YJ-8II SSM types due to the adoption of quadruple instead of triple launchers, and an octuple HQ-7 SAM system, which was shorted range but more accurate. Despite improvements they still lack a more secure and modular vertical-launch system and the launchers stays vulnerable.

Frigate Jiaxing, #521 (credits sinodefense)

Design of the type 053H3:

The final design of the anti-ship Frigate displaced 2,250 tons standard for 2,393 tons fully loaded, a length of 112 m, beam of 12.4 m and draught of 4.3 m. They carried 168 men, including 30 officers.
The most obvious visual distinction between NATO Jiangwei I & II (H2G and H3) are the HQ-7 SAM instead of HQ-61B system, eight C-802 anti-ship missiles instead of six, and aft AAA mounts elevated. The Jiangwei II was only briefly equipped with HQ-61B SAM before replacement by the final HQ-7 during an upgrade. Some sources claims this upgraded version was called Type 057 in PLAN’s nomenclature.

The Type 053H3 displacement is 2,250 tons standard and 2,393 tons fully loaded, comparable to the H2G, with the same overall length of 112 m (367 ft 5 in), a beam of 12.4 m (40 ft 8 in) and a draught of 4.3 m (14 ft 1 in), the same as the H2G, at least officially. However the upper forward deck is lengthened in order to accommodate the new weapons system. Radars are also different, the superstructure is remodelled and the twin guns are replaced further aft and in high positions abaft the helicopter hangar.

Propulsion of the Type 053H3 Frigates:

Jiaxing

The Chinese Type 053H3 Frigates are relying on a sturdy but modern, Western-influence CODAD system (Combined diesel and diesel) mated on two shaft. They are more powerful than the previous Frigates, with two 18E390VA diesel rated for 23,600 hp (17,600 kW) total, and two German-pattern MTU diesel rated at 8,715 hp (6,499 kW) total. This allows a top speed of 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph). Range is officially 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 15-16 knots (28 to 30 km/h). This was the same as the Type 53H2G.

YJ-83J Missile

Armament of the Type 053H3 Frigates:

This was about the same as the H2G, with AA, SSN, and ASW capabilities making these ships versatile platforms despite their limited size.

• Eight YJ-83 SSM in two quadruple cell box launchers either side
• One octuple HQ-7 Surface-to-air missile system
• One PJ33A dual 100 mm gun (automatic)*
• Four Type 76A dual-37 mm AA guns*
• Two 6-tube Type 3200 ASW rocket launchers (36 rockets)*
• Two DC racks & launcher*
• Six torpedo launchers 324 mm ASW*
• Two decoy racks Type 946/PJ-46 15-barrel rocket launchers*
• Harbin Z-9C ASW/SAR helicopters*

*Identical to the Type 053H2G

About the HQ-7:

The great novelty of this design, but not new in the Chinese PLAN as already used on destroyers previously. This system was derived from the French R330 Sea Crotale. Originally the Crotale system was a joint effort for South Africa which searched for a short-range SAM. Developed by Rockwell International and Thomson-Houston/Mistral in France by 1967, the system was first named Cactus. Impressed, the French air force adopted it too, and soon it was widespread in all three services. Since 1978, the system has been improved gradually and is a staple for short-range AA defense in many navies, with 330 systems sold to 11 countries.

In China, one system was purchased on the 1980s and reverse engineered, creating the HQ-7. Gradually the system was improved and the current HQ-7A/FM-90 is used on the Type 053H3 and Type 054 frigates. The 054A used the longer range HQ-16, derived from the Russian “Buk” SAM. The basic HQ-7 used a Type 360S E/F-band Doppler radar capable of a detection range of 18.4 km. It was coupled with a ZJK-4 combat management system, capable of managing up to 30 targets, tracking 12 simultaneously. The improved FM-90 produced by CNPMIEC is faster and has a longer range, using an IR-tracking camera. Introduced in 1998 it is mainly proposed for export.

Type 53H3 schematics – Note this is not the standard weapons system, but the refitted Huaihua

Electronics of the Type 053H3 Frigates:

Command and control architecture comprised the Chinese-built ZJK-2 combat data system. It was derived from the French TAVITAC imported in the late 1980s.
This system is in open architecture, with modular, multifunction consoles and for display large, HD colour flat screens. The C&C system compiles and displays tactical pictures and maritime picture (RMP) from sensors data. Its functions are threat evaluation, weapon allocation and engagement co-ordination of the armament against multiple targets at once.
This package comprised the following:

Onboard Sensors & processing systems
• Type 360 Radar (SR60) Surface Search, E/F band
• Type 517H-1 (Knife Rest) 2D long-range air search, A-band
• Type 345 Radar (MR35) HQ-7 SAM/100 mm gun FCS, J-band
• Type 352 Radar (Square Tie) surface search and SSM FCS, I-band
• 2 × Type 347G/EFR-1 (Rice Lamp) dual 37 mm AA FCS, I-band
• 2 × Racal RM-1290 Navigation radar, I-band

Electronic warfare, decoys:

• Data link HN-900 (Chinese Link 11A/B)
• Communication: SNTI-240 SATCOM
• Combat Data System: ZKJ-3C
• RWD-8 (Jug Pair) intercept
• Type 981-3 EW Jammer
• SR-210 Radar warning receiver
• Type 651A IFF

Construction and affectations

Five Type 053H3 frigates were first laid down in 1996-98 and constructed at Hudong Shipyard, entering service by the end of 1999. These were the 522 Lianyungang, 521 Jiaxing, 523 Putian for the first batch (launched 1997-98), and a second batch of two launched in 2004, 527 Luoyang and 528 Mianyang.
Guangzhou shipyard delivered the 564 Yichang, 565 Huludao, 567 Xiangyang, and 566 Huaihua. They were commissioned in 1999-2002.

Six were sent to the East Sea Fleet. Huangpu Shipyard at Guangzhou in southern China delivered a single ship, 528 Mianyang. She was the last built for the PLAN, commissioned in April 2005 for the North sea fleet. 527 Luoyang and 564 Yichang also joined the North sea fleet. 565 Huludao was the sole Frigate sent in the south sea fleet.
Hudong shipyards would deliver three more Frigates of a modified type this time for Pakistan. They were intended to replace four US warships. The Purchase of four was deferred in 1995 due to economic and diplomatic problems (see later).

Modernization of the Type 053H3 Frigates

A mid-life upgrade was noted by foreign observers the class from 2015. The replacement of the ESM/EW suite/radars by systems driven from the Type 054 was the most visible change, followed by the HQ-7 launcher replaced by a HHQ-10 unit, short range missile. Also the twin Type 76A 37mm guns were replaced by more modern 30mm CIWS systems closely modelled after the Russian Gryazev-Shipunov AO-18K.