China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is boosting its naval firepower with an upgraded Type 054A missile frigate featuring a larger gun and an extended flight deck.
Dubbed Linfen, the new version is reportedly capable of housing multiple anti-submarine helicopters with its expanded hangar.
Its reinforced main gun enhances close-range naval engagements and can support precision strikes against ground targets.
According to crew member Gong Chao, Linfen can strike from longer distances with improved accuracy, enhancing China’s surface strike options against adversaries.
Linfen’s upgraded radar systems also extend detection ranges and deliver more precise positioning data, outperforming legacy platforms in contested maritime environments.
The PLA expects these upgrades to give the frigate greater mission effectiveness in electronic warfare, where detection reliability and resistance to jamming are critical.
Complementary Systems
China envisions Linfen to complement its conceptual Type 054B frigate, which will have larger displacement and extended operational range.
Together, the two platforms could expand submarine detection distances, with Linfen directing aircraft like Z-20 helicopters to neutralize underwater threats.
