China China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC)
Type 054A
China's most numerous modern frigate class, providing general-purpose escort and anti-submarine warfare with a 32-cell vertical launch system for medium-range air defense. It has also been exported to Pakistan as the Tughril class.
In service since 2008 · 2 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
4,000
t
27
kn
3,800
nmi
32
VLS
190
crew
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Chinese state channel
State export agencies (NORINCO/CATIC); limited availability to Western-aligned states.
Channel: State export agency
Fielded & proven
Limited · 2 operators
In service since 2008. Status: active · ~30 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the Type 054A can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 1x 76 mm main gun |
|---|---|
| VLS cells Vertical-launch missile cells on a warship, a proxy for magazine depth. Higher means more missiles before rearming. | 32 |
| Torpedo tubes Number of torpedo tubes (submarines and some surface ships). | 6 |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 134 m |
|---|
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Radar Primary radar. AESA (active electronically scanned array) is the current state of the art. | Type 382 3D air-search radar |
|---|---|
| Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights. | hull-mounted sonar, variable-depth sonar |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 30 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 2 |
Specifications compiled from public China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
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Type 054A vs
Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer 
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Kirov-class 
Maya-class 
Sejong the Great-class destroyer Frequently asked questions
What is the main armament of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 054A? +
The China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 054A's primary weapon is the 1x 76 mm main gun.
What is the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 054A used for? +
The China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 054A is a warship typically used for air defense, anti armor.
How many countries operate the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 054A? +
The China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 054A is operated by 2 countries.
How much does the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 054A cost? +
China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 054A: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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