Type 054B: What We Know About New China Navy Warship [Video]

On Wednesday the Chinese Navy commissioned its first new-generation stealth frigate, the Type 054B, said to have “strong capabilities” for conducting combat operations.

Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for further comment by email.

Why It Matters

According to the latest Pentagon assessment report on Chinese military power, China has the world’s largest navy by hull count, with over 370 ships and submarines, including a fleet of 40 Type 054A frigates (the Type 054B’s predecessor), at the end of 2023.

China continues to build warships to challenge America’s naval dominance in the Western Pacific. Last month, it launched its first new-generation amphibious assault ship, equipped with a catapult system that supports the flight operations of fixed-wing aircraft.

What To Know

CNS Luohe, the first ship of the Type 054B that has a hull number “545,” was put into service at a military port in Qingdao, in the eastern China’s Shandong province. The new warship has …