The first Type 054AG launched by Huangpu Shipyard. 

首艘054AG型由黄埔造船厂下水。

 

New Type 054A variant features larger flight deck and hangar for Z-20 helicopter, and new main gun. Ships under construction at two yards may grow Type 054A-fleet to 50 units or more.

新型054A改型具有更大的飞行甲板和Z-20直升机机库，以及新的主炮。在两个船厂建造的船舶可能会将054A型舰队增加到50艘或更多。

 

Alex Luck  14 Aug 2024

作者：亚历克斯·勒克 2024年8月14日

 

Chinese builders Huangpu-Wenchong and Hudong-Zhonghua are both engaged in construction of an improved variant of the venerable Type 054A. The new frigate informally carries the designation Type 054AG (with G noting “improved” or “upgraded” in PLAN nomenclature). Now Huangpu Shipyard based in Guangzhou has launched the first Type 054AG, presumably around the beginning of August.

中国建造商黄浦文冲和沪东中华都在建造古老的054A型的改进型。新护卫舰非正式地带有054AG型的名称（G在PLAN命名法中表示“改进”或“升级”）。现在，广州黄埔造船厂已经下水了第一艘054AG型，大概在8月初左右。

 

Hudong drydock on Changxing Island in a recent overflight image. Dock contains two Type 054AG frigates, one Type 054A coast guard variant and the Type 076 LHD. 

最近的一张航拍图片显示，长兴岛上的沪东干船坞。码头包含两艘054AG型护卫舰、一艘054A型海岸警卫队改型和076型LHD。

 

Meanwhile Hudong in Shanghai continues construction of at least two more Type 054AG in a new large drydock on Changxing Island. The facility is notable for also assembling the new Type 076 amphibious assault carrier equipped with an electromagnetic catapult. In addition the same drydock concurrently with the two frigates and LHD is constructing one Type 054A-variant for the Chinese Coast Guard. In the most recent imagery of Hudong additional hull segments for further frigates have also appeared at the facility. Whether these are further Type 054AG or more coast guard hulls is yet to be established.

与此同时，上海沪东继续在长兴岛的一座新的大型干船坞建造至少两艘054AG型。该设施还以组装配备电磁弹射器的新型076型两栖攻击舰而闻名。此外，同一艘干船坞与两艘护卫舰和LHD同时为中国海岸警卫队建造了一艘054A型改型。在沪东的最新图像中，该设施还出现了更多护卫舰的船体部分。这些是进一步的054AG型还是更多的海岸警卫队船体还有待确定。

 

Larger flight deck, new main gun.

更大的飞行甲板，新的主炮。

 

The first Type 054AG launched at Huangpu appeared in new imagery on social media over the past week. The photos allow further observations on its changed characteristics compared to the preceding Type 054A. The most notable aspect is the lengthened flight deck and expanded hangar space.

过去一周，在黄浦下水的第一艘054AG型出现在社交媒体上的新图像中。与之前的054A型相比，这些照片可以进一步观察到其特征的变化。最引人注目的方面是加长的飞行甲板和扩大的机库空间。

 

This modification resembles efforts also on the Type 052D multirole destroyer, resulting in the newer version referred to as 052DL. In both cases the change accommodates the new Z-20 ASW- and multirole naval helicopter. This S-70-derived medium helicopter is in the early stages of joining service with PLAN. Z-20 is also in production for the PLA Ground Force, Air Force and military police (PAP). The naval variants of Z-20 are the Z-20F anti-submarine version and the Z-20J naval utility helicopter. The type will effectively replace Z-9 series light utility- and ASW-helicopters in addition to Russian Ka-27/28 helicopters in PLAN-service.

这一修改类似于052D型多用途驱逐舰的改进，导致了新版本的052DL。在这两种情况下，这一变化都适用于新型Z-20反潜战和多用途海军直升机。这架S-70衍生的中型直升机正处于与中国海军联合服役的早期阶段。Z-20也在为中国人民解放军地面部队、空军和武警部队生产。Z-20的海军改型是Z-20F反潜型和Z-20J海军通用直升机。除了中国海军服役的俄罗斯卡-27/28直升机外，该型号将有效地取代Z-9系列轻型通用直升机和反潜直升机。

 

Z-20F ASW helicopter in hover, with both Z-20F and J-variants visible in hangar. The new helicopter is a major driver for the Type 054AG re-design, similar to the larger Type 052DL destroyer. 

Z-20F反潜直升机处于悬停状态，机库中可见Z-20F和J变体。新型直升机是054AG型重新设计的主要驱动力，类似于更大的052DL型驱逐舰。

 

In order to accommodate the larger hangar, Type 054AG moves the bays housing RHIBs on both sides of the superstructure forward right next to the funnel for the ship’s CODAD main propulsion.

为了容纳更大的机库，054AG型将上部结构两侧的刚体充气艇(RHIBs)舱向前移动，紧邻船舶CODAD主推进的烟囱。

 

A second major change is integration of what appears to be a new variant of the H/PJ-87 100 mm main gun on the bow. The new main gun replaces the H/PJ-26 76 mm gun on existing Type 054A. The change is a return of sorts to the configuration found on the first two Type 054-frigates, which also used an older configuration of the H/PJ-87, in addition to some older PLAN destroyers. This comeback of the 100 mm-gun on both Type 054AG and Type 054B suggests developers have resolved rumored performance issues on the design, with wider adaption now in effect.

第二个主要变化是在船艏集成了H/PJ-87 100毫米主炮的新改型。新的主炮取代了现有054A型上的H/PJ-26 76毫米舰炮。这一变化在某种程度上是对前两艘054型护卫舰配置的回归，除了一些旧的解放军驱逐舰外，这两艘护卫舰还使用了H/PJ-87的旧配置。054AG型和054B型100毫米舰炮的回归表明，开发商已经解决了传闻中的设计性能问题，现在正在进行更广泛的调整。

 

The new 100 mm-main gun as seen on a Type 054B frigate. Use of this gun sets the improved Type 054AG apart from the preceding Type 054A frigate. 

054B型护卫舰上看到的新型100毫米主炮。使用这种火炮使改进的054AG型护卫舰与之前的054A型护卫舰区别开来。

 

New design likely to maintain sensor and weapons fit

新设计可能保持传感器和武器的匹配度

 

Type 054AG like preceding Type 054-evolutions continues to carry a Type 382 3D dual band air search radar or a variant of the type on the main mast, and a Type 366 X-band radar on the bridge. This setup contrasts with Type 054B carrying a new dual sided AESA as its primary sensor on the mast above the bridge. The surface search radar on the mast amidships is still missing on the most recent images. It may be the Type 364 C-band radar, or alternatively a new design, perhaps similar to the radar carried by the most recent 052DL-variant. Like the preceding construction batch of the Type 054A the AG-variant makes do without the mechanically steered Type 345 fire control radar, instead housing the emitters in fixed panels on the hangar edges and above the bridge.

054AG型和之前的054型一样，继续在主桅上携带382型3D双频空中搜索雷达或该类型的改型，并在舰桥上携带366型X波段雷达。这种设置与054B型形成鲜明对比，054B型在舰桥上方的桅杆上搭载了一种新型双侧AESA作为其主要传感器。在最近的图像中，舰体中央桅杆上的水面搜索雷达仍然缺失。它可能是364型C波段雷达，也可能是一种新的设计，可能类似于最新052DL改型携带的雷达。与之前的054A型建造批次一样，AG改型没有机械操纵的345型火控雷达，而是将发射器安装在机库边缘和舰桥上方的固定面板中。

 

In terms of armament the variant maintains the 32 cell VLS for HQ-16 SAM and Yu-8 ASW missiles. The ships continues to feature two H/PJ-12 30 mm CIWS. Similar to Type 054B, the new variant will likely mount two quadruple box launchers for YJ-83 antiship missiles amidships.

在武器装备方面，该改型为HQ-16 SAM和Yu-8 ASW导弹保留了32个单元的VLS。这些舰艇继续配备两个H/PJ-12 30毫米CIWS。与054B型类似，新改型可能会在舰中安装两个YJ-83反舰导弹的四联箱式发射器。

 

Both Hudong and Huangpu have previously launched one hull each of the newly designed Type 054B frigate. Beyond the initial pair more hulls have yet to appear at either yard. The construction of Type 054AG in larger numbers, featuring some of the traits and improvements seen on Type 054B may indicate the newer design will need further time before wider production. Meanwhile PLAN may desire proliferation of a proven design capable of fielding the modern and capable Z-20.

沪东和黄浦此前都下水了一艘新设计的054B型护卫舰。除了最初的一对船体，两个船厂都还没有出现更多的船体。054AG型的大量建造，具有054B型的一些特征和改进，可能表明新的设计在更广泛的生产之前需要更多的时间。与此同时，中国海军可能希望推广一种经过验证的设计，该设计能够部署现代化、功能强大的Z-20。

 

Huangpu Shipyard in a recent image. New Type 054B frigate fitting out to the left. A Type 054A variant for the Chinese Coast Guard to the right. 

黄浦船厂最近的一张图片。新的054B型护卫舰在左边舾装。右边是中国海岸警卫队的054A改型。

 

It is uncertain how many units PLAN intends to build to the improved Type 054AG frigate standard. Nor is it clear at present which legacy units these ships will replace. Present construction of the new variant however suggests overall Type 054A-numbers for PLAN are going to reach 50 hulls or more over the next few years.

目前尚不清楚中国海军打算建造多少艘符合改进型054AG护卫舰标准的护卫舰。目前也不清楚这些舰艇将取代哪些传统单位。然而，目前新改型的建造表明，未来几年，中国海军的054A型舰艇总数将达到50艘或更多。