Jiangdao Type-056 Frigate/Corvette (FFL) - Program
According to the plan, this naval vessel is likely to be produced in large quantities among China’s combat ships. It is produced by multiple plants in large quantities. It will be built by multiple highly professional shipyards in China simultaneously, which is the first time for a China-made frigate.
The mass production of new-type frigate will shorten the production cycle and accelerate delivery and commissioning. It used to be said that it took ten years to build a frigate, but now it may take only one year to build ten frigates since multiple plants are working at the same time.
As a large number of serving surface vessels for base defense will be decommissioned, the PLAN is in urgent need for new-type base defense forces to orderly replace and retrofit the frigates, submarine chasers and guided missile boats that are serving base defense now but will be decommissioned soon.
As a weapon for inshore defense and naval base defense, the 056 light guided missile frigates will replace the large number of older 1,960-ton 053 frigate series [of which 30 were deployed, and began to be withdrawn from service around 2010], 430-ton 037 submarine chaser series [of which over 100 were deployed, and began to be withdrawn from service around 2005] and various guided missile boats. The large-scale delivery and application of 056 frigate indicate the comprehensive upgrade of China’s inshore defense power.
As early as 2008 at least one Western analyst had discussed the prospect for a new class of ship between 1000 and 1500 ton to fill in the middle between the small 220-ton Type 022 and large 4,000-ton Type 054 and replace the patrolling duties of the Type 037 class and Jianghu class light frigates. And in late 2010 a model of a Type 056 was presented by the deputy commander of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison, provoking further discussion. Then, as one analyst put it, "Over the few months, we've seen the Type 056 program exploding in four different shipyards around the country."
China may build 20 to 30 of this class. At least six of the JIANGDAO-class corvettes (FFL) (Type 056) were launched in 2012, according to DOD. By early 2013 China was building a total of 20 Type 056 Jiangdao class frigates to replace older models and bolster its ability to conduct patrols in waters it claims in the South and East China Seas. By mid-2013 at least 12 had been launched with at least 5 in commission. They are mostly replacing Type 037 currently in service with PLAN.
By mid-2012 the Type 056 program was building at four shipyards across China. At least 2 Type 056s came from the Hudong shipyard, which also produces 054A and 071 amongst many other naval ships. At least 2 Type 056s were launched from Huangpu shipyard, which also produces 054A, cutters and rescue ships. At least one Type 056 was launched in WuChang shipyard with possibly more under construction. WC typically produced conventional submarines and large cutters. Rather surprisingly, at least one 056 was launched in 2013 at the LiaoNan shipyard in Dalian [not the Dalian shipyard that did the work on ex-Varyag and the Type 051C, but a smaller yard more known for repairing ships, though it did build some Type 022 class FACs].
China's first Type-056 frigate with the hull number of 582 was delivered to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on 25 February 2013. The country's first "type 056" stealth frigate, formerly known simply as ship 582, was renamed Bengbu at a commission ceremony held in a naval port in Zhoushan, a coastal city in East China's Zhejiang province. Bengbu is the name of a prefecture-level city in East China's Anhui province, which literally means "oyster wharf" in Chinese.
The handover ceremony for China’s first type-056 new-type frigate with hull number 582 was held on the afternoon of February 25, 2013 in Shanghai. Leaders including Li Andong, chief of the Science and Technology Committee of the General Armaments Department (GAD) of the PLA and deputy director of the GAD, Liu Yi, deputy commander of the PLA Navy, and Su Zhiqian, commander of the East China Sea Fleet of the PLA Navy, attended the ceremony. A senior navy general endorsed a PLA flag and naming certificate to the naval unit receiving the frigate.
Wu Shengli, member of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and commander of the Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), attended and addressed the ceremony. Adm. Wu Shengli said in his speech that it is expected that the officers and men of the frigate with the hull number 582 should strengthen their sense of the “first frigate”, conscientiously study the new equipment, understand and master the usage of new equipment, manage and use the new equipment well, fully play its “seed” role, and constantly temper themselves in the struggles of defending China’s national maritime sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, so as to become the maritime strong force capable of fighting and wining the battles and trusted by Xi Jinping, chairman of the CMC, and the CMC.
The "Bengbu" warship, China's first independently-developed new-generation guided missile frigate, conducted its first training in certain sea area of the East China Sea from April 8 to 12, 2013, after the "Bengbu" warship was officially commissioned to the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). In accordance with the requirements of bold training, scientific training, safety training, they completed many subjects of training, such as live-ammunition fire training, sea rescue and ships manipulation, so as to further improve commanders’ organizations and command ability and crew’s coordination ability.
The fine folks over at the indispensible Information Dissemination note that "As of now [March 2013], at least 9 other [Type] 056s have already been launched by the 4 shipyards building them. The overall number of this class is expected to be between the final count of [Type] 054A [ships] (probably around 20) and [Type] 022 [craft] (around 80). They are expected to replace the 10 Type 053 class Jianghu frigates currently serving in the South China Sea Patrol flotilla and the close to 50 Type 037 class missile boats.
"The [Type] 056 program seems to follow an even more aggressive production schedule than [Type] 022 FACs [fast attack craft]. We are seeing four shipyards (HuDong, HuangPu, WuChang and LiaoNan) producing [Type] 056s simultaneously before the first [Type] 056 was ever launched. In fact, the first [Type] 056 launched from both HP and HD shipyard had their funnels and the bow section reworked after they were already launched."
The ceremony for naming and presenting flag to the guided missile frigate Ji’an is held in Shanghai, 08 January 2014. A commissioning, naming and flag-presenting ceremony of the new-type light guided missile frigate “Weihai” of the Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLAN) was held at 10:45 of 15 March 2014 at a naval port in a base under the North China Sea Fleet of the PLAN, marking that the “Weihai” ship is officially commissioned to the North China Sea Fleet of the PLAN. The “Weihai” ship (hull number 590) is a new-generation light guided missile frigate.
If the number of frigates built is taken as a criterion to gauge its position, the 056 frigate will become an important part of Chinese frigates, and will be under the spotlight in the international shipbuilding industry for a period to come.
Chinese state television (CCTV) reported 10 March 2015 the commissioning of the 1,500-tonne Type 056 Jiangdao-class corvette Xinyang. Xinyang (pennant No.501) is the 19th Type 056 to be commissioned, having been the 21st laid down. The ship was expected to be assigned to the North Sea Fleet. Unlike other recently commissioned Type 056As, Xinyang did not appear to be equipped with a variable depth sonar capability, thus it was likely to operate primarily as a general purpose patrol vessel. It is, however, armed with four YJ-83 medium-range anti-ship missiles, two 324 mm triple-barreled torpedo launchers, 76 mm and 30 mm guns, and HQ-10 short-range air-defence missiles.
The light frigate Xinyang (hull number 501) has been commissioned to the North China Sea Fleet of the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLAN). The commissioning ceremony for the new frigate was held in a maritime garrison of the North China Sea Fleet on March 7. The frigate Xinyang, with a length of 89 meters, a width of 11 meters and a full-load water displacement of over 1,300 tons, is a new-generation light frigate independently developed by China.
The frigate, equipped with multiple types of advanced weapon systems, possesses good stealth performance, a strong electromagnetic compatibility. It is capable of attacking surface warships and submarines independently or in collaboration with other PLAN forces, featuring strong combat power in air defense, anti-submarine and surface operations. The frigate will mainly undertake the tasks including patrolling, guarding, fishing escort and merchant ships escort.
The East China Sea Fleet of the Chinese PLA Navy held a commissioning ceremony for the new type guided-missile frigate Ningde (Hull 510) at a naval port in Xiamen, southeast China’s Fujian Province, on 28 December 2016. Zhai Yongyuan, political commissar of a military base under the East China Sea Fleet, attended the ceremony and presented the navy ensign and naming certificate to the new frigate. The guided-missile frigate Ningde was named after Ningde City, southeast China’s Fujian Province.
The People's Liberation Army Navy commissioned its 31st Type-056 class corvette 21 January 2017, marking a new addition to the world's largest fleet of modern corvettes. The CNS Ezhou with a hull number of 513 was delivered to the East Sea Fleet in a naval base in East China's Fujian province on Wednesday, PLA Daily reported, saying the ship will perform coastal patrol, fishery escort, anti-submarine and anti-ship operations.
A new missile frigate Liupanshui joined the Chinese People Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on 31 March 2017 with the commissioning and naming ceremony held at a naval port in Sanya City, south China's Hainan province. Independently developed and built by China, the Liupanshui is a Type 056 corvette equipped with multiple sets of new-type homemade weapons and equipment, capable of carrying out air defense, anti-submarine as well as surface operations. The new corvette is named after the Liupanshui City in southwest China's Guizhou province. All officers and soldiers serving on the warship have been granted the title of "Honorary Citizen" of Liupanshui City.
China's new guided-missile frigate Wuhai, the latest member of the Type 056 corvettes family and with stronger anti-submarine capabilities, officially begun naval service on 16 January 2018. Lü Baoqiang, political commissar of a military base under the Northern Theater Command, conferred the navy ensign and naming certificate to the new frigate (hull number 540) at the Monday naval ceremony, and Wuhai officially joined the naval battle sequence, according to the PLA Navy. The Wuhai is the latest member of the Type 056 corvettes family, which is the PLA Navy's main fleet for offshore defense, said Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator.
As China's older generation corvettes, the Type 037 and Type 053, are retired, the Type 056 has gradually taken over their missions, Song told the Global Times. The main duties of the Wuhai, according to the article, will include patrolling, guarding, escorting missions, and working with other naval forces to strike enemy ships. It is also capable of engaging in anti-submarine warfare and other comprehensive maritime warfare.
In early 2021 the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy commissioned its last batch of Type 056A corvettes specialized in coastal defense, with the total number of the Type 056 series reaching 72, as analysts predicted that China could then shift focus to produce more larger warships as part of the country's aim to build a blue-water navy. The final two Type 056A corvettes delivered to the PLA Navy, the Nanyang, with the hull number of 619, and the Shangqiu, with the hull number of 618, entered service in late January and early February respectively. China wrapped up production of the final Type 056A Aba, named after the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, in December 2019. But the Aba seems to have entered service earlier than the Nanyang and the Shangqiu.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy began transferring a batch of Type 056 corvettes to the China Coast Guard, with the ships now undergoing retrofitting work. Analysts said on 23 February 2022 that this reflected that the navy had developed to a stage where it no longer needs so many coastal defense vessels, and the coast guard would receive a significant power boost in safeguarding key sea regions, islands and reefs. About 20 Type 056 corvettes of the PLA Navy were being transferred to the Coast Guard, and the Shanghai-based Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard is customizing some of the ships, Ordnance Industry Science Technology, a Chinese defense industry magazine, reported on 21 February 2022. As part of the customization, air defense and anti-ship missiles are being removed, and LED screens and directional acoustic devices are being added, which are clear indications that the vessels are being converted from naval warships to coast guard cutters, the report said. In the hands of the Coast Guard, the Type 056, taking advantage of its original designed purpose as a warship, like its fast speed, can effectively safeguard China's key sea regions, islands and reefs. To the navy, handing over as many as about 20 ships means it is ready to receive more advanced vessels, and the weapons dismantled from the Type 056s can also be mounted on other warships that require upgrades.|
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