Type 054A frigate of the PLA Navy
"Yantai" (538) is a Type 054A frigate of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She was commissioned in June 2011.
Development and design.
The Type 054A carries HQ-16 medium-range air defence missiles and anti-submarine missiles in a vertical launching system (VLS) system. The HQ-16 has a range of up to 50 km, with superior range and engagement angles to the Type 054's HQ-7. The Type 054A's VLS uses a hot launch method; a shared common exhaust system is sited between the two rows of rectangular launching tubes.
The four AK-630 close-in weapon systems (CIWS) of the Type 054 were replaced with two Type 730 CIWS on the Type 054A. The autonomous Type 730 provides improved reaction time against close-in threats.
Construction and career.
"Yantai" was launched in August 2010 at the China State Shipbuilding Corporation in Shanghai. Commissioned in June 2011. It has been involved in anti-piracy operations in the gulf of Aden.
References.
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