China’s New Type 054B Stealth Frigate is a Huge Problem for the U.S. Navy
As the PLAN integrates this vessel into its fleet and refines the design for mass production, the Luohe specifically stands as a symbol of China’s rise as a naval superpower.
China continues to alarm the world with its unprecedented naval buildup. Already the largest navy in the world—and growing even larger thanks to its vast indigenous shipbuilding capacity—Beijing is now marrying that mass production supremacy with quality technology.
Take, for instance, news of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) newest maritime asset, the Luohe, the first of China’s Type 054B stealth frigates. With a sleek, stealth-oriented design and advanced combat capabilities, the Luohe represents a significant leap in capabilities when compared to its predecessor, the Type 054A.
About the Luohe Frigate
Commissioned on January 22, 2025 at a ceremony in Qingdao, Shandong—home to the PLAN’s Northern Fleet—the Luohe first came to the world’s attention when it participated in major PLAN military exercises in the Yellow Sea last week. Its appearance and the capabilities it demonstrated during the exercise surprised even the most seasoned observer.
Larger than its Type 054A predecessor, the Type 054B’s expanded size allows for greater stability, enhanced firepower, and the capacity to carry larger helicopters, such as the Z-20F, a multirole maritime helicopter that is akin to the United States Navy’s SH-60 Seahawk.
Luohe’s propulsion system is a combined diesel configuration, though some analysts had anticipated a shift to gas turbines or an integrated electric propulsion (IEP) system for quieter operations.
Capable of exceeding 27 knots (31 miles per hour) with a range of around 5,000 nautical miles (5,753 miles), the Luohe is built for endurance and flexibility in both near-seas defense and power projection operations. Indeed, its hull design prioritizes stealth. The ship has a clean superstructure and angled surfaces, as well as an enclosed bow anchor—a unique feature for a Chinese warship.
The Luohe’s Specs
The Type 054B has a multi-role mission profile, and its armaments package reflects this reality. A 100mm H/PJ-87 naval gun serves as the lynchpin for the warship’s armaments package. This main gun provides precision firepower against surface and air targets.
Augmenting this potent gun is a 32-cell vertical launching system (VLS) capable of firing HQ-16 surface-to-air missiles for air defense and Yu-8 anti-submarine missiles. Further, the frigate features dual quad launchers for YJ-83 anti-ship cruise missiles, enhancing its surface warfare capabilities.
When it comes to close-in defense, the Luohe is equipped with a Type 1130 30mm Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) and an HQ-10 short-range air defense missile system (roughly analogous to America’s RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile). Additional Type 726 launchers deploy infrared decoys, active decoys, and anti-submarine rockets, bolstering its survivability.
The sensor suite is equally impressive, featuring a dual-face rotating S-band Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar atop the main mast for long-range detection, alongside an X-band AESA radar and an electronic warfare system on the secondary mast. These systems provide enhanced situational awareness, critical for air defense, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and fleet coordination.
The Type 054B is a Game-Changer
China’s Type 054B is designed to bridge the gap between the country’s coastal defense roots and its ambition to become a dominant blue-water navy that can project power far from its shores. Commissioned into the Northern Theater Navy, the Luohe is poised to operate alongside the aircraft carrier Liaoning, also based in Qingdao, providing escort duties in air defense and ASW roles.
Luohe’s stealth features and advanced combat systems make it a formidable asset in contested waters, such as the Yellow Sea, the Taiwan Strait, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea.
The Type 054B is a statement of strategic intent for the whole world to view. With its advanced stealth technology, robust armament, endurance, and multi-role flexibility, the Type 054B enhances China’s ability to project power and defend its interests in an increasingly contested maritime domain.
As the PLAN integrates this vessel into its fleet and refines the design for mass production, the Luohe specifically stands as a symbol of China’s rise as a naval superpower—one that challenges the established order and reshapes the balance of power on the High Seas.
Whenever the Chinese decide to attack Taiwan (sooner rather than later), one can anticipate that the Type 054B will play a key role in that assault.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Oliver Spiteri.
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