PLA Navy's Second 5,000-Ton Type 054B Frigate Coming Soon

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has unveiled its second Type 054B frigate in a new poster released by the South Sea Fleet, marking the warship’s first official appearance ahead of the PLA Navy’s 76th anniversary on April 23.

The vessel, bearing hull number 555, was shown fully dressed with crew members standing at attention on the starboard side. The image appeared in a public poster campaign shared on the South Sea Fleet’s official WeChat account. No date, name, or location for Warship 555 was provided.

This comes shortly after the commissioning of the first ship of the class, the Type 054B frigate Luohe (hull number 545), which officially joined the PLA Navy’s North Sea Fleet in January following a ceremony in Qingdao, according to Chinese state media.

With a displacement of around 5,000 tons, the Type 054B represents a new generation of Chinese frigates. According to Xinhua, it includes improvements in stealth design, combat command systems, and integrated fire control, enabling it to perform a wide range of missions.

Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that the Type 054B frigate is a far seas-capable platform developed from the older Type 054A. He said the latest vessel is expected to operate in the South China Sea, complementing the first hull deployed in northern waters such as the Yellow and East China Seas.

“This dual deployment strategy allows the PLA Navy to adapt the Type 054B to various maritime environments, speeding up combat readiness and system optimization,” Zhang noted.

Training exercises involving the first Type 054B frigate in the Yellow Sea were already underway as of March, Chinese state television reported.

Zhang said China could move toward mass production once enough operational data is collected. He added that the Type 054B is designed to work alongside aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, enhancing naval group capabilities in distant waters.

The Chinese Ministry of National Defense described the development of such warships as part of regular military planning. At a press conference in 2023, spokesperson Senior Colonel Wu Qian said the move aims to protect “China's sovereignty, security, and development interests while contributing to peace and stability.”

American President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order to revive U.S. shipbuilding, unveiling a Maritime Action Plan to counter China’s dominance in global shipping. The order boosts domestic ship production, expands mariner training, enforces port fees, and targets China’s “non-market practices.” The plan also calls for new financial incentives, port infrastructure upgrades, and the creation of a Maritime Security Trust Fund. The U.S. currently builds just 0.2% of the world’s ships, while China builds 74%. “We used to make ships. We don’t anymore — but we will,” Trump said.