Type 053H2G (Jiangwei-I Class) Missile Frigate

The Type 053H2G (NATO codename: Jiangwei-I class) is the multirole missile frigate built by the Shanghai-based Hudong Shipyard (now Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard) in the early 1990s for the PLA Navy. A total of four hulls (539~542) were built before the production stopped and replaced by the more capable Type 053H3 (Jiangwei-II Class). The first true ‘multirole’ frigate of the PLA Navy, the Type 053H2G was designed for coastal patrol, surface strike, antisubmarine warfare, and other general duties in offshore waters.

Missiles

The primary surface strike weapon system is the YJ-8A sea-skimming anti-ship missile. Two triple 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 120km.

The main air defence weapon is a 6-cell HongQi-61B (HQ-61B) short-range SAM system, designed to engage aircraft in all-weather, day/night conditions at a maximum range of 8km with line-of-sight guidance.

Guns

A Type 79 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) for the four dual-37mm AAA guns, a Type 342 (Fog Lamp, J-band) for the HQ-7 SAM, and a Type 343G (Wasp Head, I/J-band) for the YJ-8 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, Type 651A IFF, and two Mk-36RBOC 6-barrel chaff/decoy rocket launchers.

Command & Control

The Type 053H2G is fitted with an indigenous ZJK-1 combat data system developed from the French TAVITAC.

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.

Shiplist

Last update: 26 February 2009