Type-054A (Jiangkai II)

The Type 054A (Jiangkai II) is a class of multi-role frigates developed by China for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). It features a stealthy hull design, a vertical launching system (VLS) for missiles, and advanced anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

Developed in the early 2000s to replace the basic Type 054 and provide the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) with a robust area air-defense capability, the Type 054A officially entered service in 2008 with the commissioning of the Xuzhou. The class has since served as a cornerstone of China's far-seas operations, participating extensively in international counter-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden and the 2015 evacuation of citizens from Yemen. With over 30 hulls constructed, it represents one of the most numerous modern frigate classes in the world, serving as the backbone of the PLAN's escort fleet while laying the technological groundwork for the next-generation Type 054B.