China commissions the 46th Type 054A frigate Ningde as Type 054B adoption advances

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Marking another milestone for China’s naval industry, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has commissioned the “Ningde”, formally bringing the 46th Type 054A guided-missile frigate into this class’s escort fleet. Its entry into service comes as the force is also progressing with the introduction of its first Type 054B stealth frigates.

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The new Type 054A frigate Ningde

State television released footage of Ningde undertaking combat-focused training drills. The vessel was assigned pennant number 510, previously carried by a Type 056 corvette of the same name that served for around a decade.

Attached to a frigate flotilla within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command, Ningde operated as part of a task group alongside other vessels. The exercise covered command coordination, emergency response and training intended to speed up the ship’s operational readiness.

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During the manoeuvres, the crew dealt with simulated threats from both the sea and the air. Radars identified the targets, weapon systems received engagement orders, and the main and secondary guns fired in succession.

The training programme also featured replenishment-at-sea drills, helicopter operations and damage-control exercises. These activities tested the frigate’s various capabilities during extended operations and under changing sea conditions.

Type 054A class capabilities

Chinese military affairs expert Zhang Junshe told the Global Times that sustained Type 054A production had met part of the requirement for both coastal and open-ocean combat. Zhang said serial production had also lowered procurement and maintenance costs, while making it easier to standardise training, logistics and command systems.

The Type 054A is fitted with three-dimensional radars, radars covering low-altitude areas and a towed-array sonar. Together, these systems can create a detection network across the maritime, air and underwater domains, while its range of up to 4,000 nautical miles supports lengthy open-ocean missions.

China’s Navy is also continuing to upgrade the class despite the development of the Type 054B. An updated Type 054A variant, unveiled in January 2026, features an enlarged flight deck for new embarked helicopters, a 100-millimetre main gun, and improvements to the range and accuracy of its radars.

The Type 054B as successor

The Type 054B represents the next development of this frigate family and began joining the Chinese Navy in 2025. The first ship, Luohe (545), entered service on 22 January that year, while the second, Qinzhou (555), was commissioned in March.

The new class displaces around 5,000 tonnes and features an updated propulsion system, a stealth design, an integrated mast and a multi-role vertical launch system (VLS). Later vessels are also expected to adopt a 48-cell configuration, compared with the 32 cells initially fitted to the first two frigates.

According to Zhang Junshe, the two classes perform complementary roles within China’s naval structure. The Type 054B is chiefly intended for escort missions and more intensive open-ocean combat operations, whereas the Type 054A retains responsibilities for coastal defence, patrols, anti-submarine warfare and escort duties.

The continued production of the Type 054A therefore reflects the need for a large number of platforms for coastal and open-ocean assignments. At the same time, the Type 054B introduces new technologies and progressively takes on longer-range roles, with both classes operating in a complementary manner.

Image credits to the relevant parties.