Type-053H3 (Jiangwei II)

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

Designed in the mid-1990s, the Type 053H3 was developed to rectify the severe air-defense limitations of its predecessor by integrating the HHQ-7 short-range surface-to-air missile system. The lead vessel of the class, Jiaxing, officially entered service with the People's Liberation Army Navy in 1998, with a total of ten hulls constructed through 2005. Throughout their operational careers, these frigates were heavily utilized for sovereignty patrols in the East and South China Seas, as well as participating in multinational anti-piracy escort missions in the Gulf of Aden. While newer stealth frigates have largely superseded them in front-line roles, several Type 053H3 vessels remain active in secondary patrol duties, while others have been refurbished and transferred to the Bangladesh Navy.