Type-053H3 (Jiangwei II Upgrade)

The Type 053H3 (Jiangwei II) is a class of frigates built for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). It is an improved version of the Type 053H2G (Jiangwei I) frigate, featuring enhanced anti-ship, anti-air, and anti-submarine capabilities.

Developed in the late 1990s to address the critical air defense deficiencies of its predecessor, the first Type 053H3 frigate entered service with the People's Liberation Army Navy in 1998. Throughout their active careers, these vessels were heavily utilized for patrol duties in the East and South China Seas, as well as participating in international anti-piracy escort missions in the Gulf of Aden. In the 2010s, several units underwent mid-life modernizations to upgrade their electronics and weapon systems, while others were decommissioned and transferred to foreign navies, including Bangladesh and Mauritania. Today, the remaining modernized vessels continue to serve in secondary patrol roles, representing a crucial evolutionary bridge to China's modern blue-water navy.