Type 056 Jiangdao is a new class of stealth corvettes built by four Chinese shipbuilders to replace the ageing Type 037 fleet of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.
A total of 70 Type 056 frigates were built by four Chinese shipyards from 2011 to 2019.
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The Jiangdao Class corvette can be deployed in patrol, escort, search-and-rescue, surveillance, exclusive economic zone (EEZ) protection, electronic warfare (EW), fishery resources protection, anti-aircraft warfare (AAW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASUW) operations.
Construction of Jiangdao Class corvettes
The stealth corvette class was built at Wuchang, Huangpu, Hudong-Zhonghua and Liaonan shipyards.
The lead ship in the class, Bengbu (582), was rolled out in May 2012 and began sea trials in November 2012. The vessel entered service with the East Sea Fleet in February 2013. The second frigate, Huizhou (596), was launched in June 2012 and commissioned into the Hong Kong Garrison in July 2013.
The third vessel, Meizhou (584), was launched in July 2012 and deployed in the South China Sea Fleet in July 2013. Datong (580) was rolled out in August 2012 and entered service with the North China Sea Fleet in May 2013.
Baise (585) was launched in October 2012 and entered service with the South China Sea Fleet in October 2013. Yingkou (581) was launched in November 2012 and deployed in the North China Sea Fleet in August 2013.
Ji’an (586) was rolled out in February 2013 and commissioned into the East China Sea Fleet in January 2014. The tenth frigate in the class, Jieyang (587), was launched in January 2013 and entered service with the South China Sea Fleet in January 2014.
Quanzhou (588) and Suqian (FFG 593) were launched in June 2013 and November 2013 respectively.
The upgrade of the domestic combat system was completed in December 2019.
Design and features of Type 056 corvettes
The Type 056 corvette is the first Chinese modular warship that can be deployed as an offshore patrol vessel or a multi-role frigate. The vessel features a stealthy hull design, integrating sloped surface and compact superstructure.
The guided-missile corvette has a length of 89m, a beam of 11.6m and maximum draft of 4.4m. The full load displacement of the warship is 1,365t and crew capacity is 60.
The deck of the vessel can accommodate one rigid hull inflatable boat and four inflatable life-rafts packed in hard-shelled canisters. The helicopter deck at the stern can support a Harbin Z-9C light utility helicopter.
Type 056 Class sensors / radars
The Type 056 corvette incorporates a Type 360 air / surface search radar, Type 760 navigation radar, Type LR-66 fire control radar, Type 754 helicopter control and approach radar and a hull-mounted sonar.
The warship is also equipped with two jammers, decoy launchers, IR-17 optronics and a SITN240 SATCOM communication system.
Weapon systems fitted to the Chinese warship
The corvette is armed with four YJ-83 (C-803) sea-skimming anti-ship cruise missiles, an AJK-10 (HQ-10) surface-to-air missile launcher and two 324mm triple torpedo tubes. The AJK-10 launcher can fire up to eight missiles.
The corvette is equipped with an H/PJ-26 76mm main gun and is also fitted with two H/PJ-17 30mm dual-mode remote-controlled weapon systems, which can be operated automatically or manually.
Engine and performance of Jiangdao Class Corvette
The Jiangdao class corvette is powered by two SEMT Pielstick PA6-STC marine engines driving two shafts. Each engine generates a power output of 5,148kW. The vessel can sail at a maximum speed of more than 30k and has a range of over 2,000nm at 18k speed.
