The Qinzhou, the second Type 054B frigate of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, conducts formation training alongside Type 055 and Type 052D destroyers. Photo: Screenshot from the military channel of CCTV News

An official media report on Sunday disclosed multiple new developments regarding the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's Type 054B guided-missile frigate Qinzhou. The report highlighted one of its most distinctive features: a next-generation architecture powered by advanced AI algorithms, enabling near-zero blind spots in air defense. Experts say the Type 054B represents a major leap in integrated combat capability and positions the vessel among the most advanced frigates in service today.

In the video released by the military channel of CCTV News on Sunday, Zhang Yunpeng, a crew member of the Qinzhou, described the ship's defining feature in one word: "new." 

He noted that the platform incorporates enhanced stealth design, with antennas and sensors integrated and optimized to significantly reduce radar cross-section. The vessel is also built entirely with domestically produced components. Compared with earlier ships, it boasts greater propulsion efficiency, lower fuel consumption, extended range, and an expanded combat radius.

In addition, the ship adopts a more streamlined command structure. This "flattened" command system enables more efficient and scientifically optimized interaction between commanders and weapon systems, improving overall operational responsiveness.

Zhang emphasized that the most notable advancement lies in the ship's new architectural framework. Taking air defense as an example, he explained that stronger computing power and more advanced algorithms, combined with AI assistance, significantly reduce or even eliminate blind zones in detection and engagement in air defense combat. This allows weapons systems to achieve greater operational effectiveness.

The report also highlighted the vessel's main gun system, which represents a newer generation of naval artillery. During the current training cycle, the system has fired hundreds of rounds without a single malfunction, providing a solid foundation for the rapid generation of combat capability for the Type 054B.

The CCTV News footage showed the Type 054B frigate Qinzhou conducting formation training alongside Type 055 and Type 052D destroyers.

The CCTV News report also highlighted the ship's role in anti-submarine operations during joint exercises with amphibious assault ships, underscoring the frigate's core mission as a protective escort.

Zhang recalled one such exercise, in which torpedo threats were introduced during the final phase of a drill. Initially responding according to standard single-ship defense procedures, the crew later realized the incoming torpedoes were targeting an amphibious assault ship rather than their own vessel.

"In that moment, we made a high-speed maneuver to place ourselves between the torpedoes and the amphibious assault ship," Zhang said. "Everyone on board understood the significance of that decision: it likely meant sacrificing ourselves to protect the amphibious assault ship. But whether in a carrier group or an amphibious task force, the frigate's mission is to serve as the final line of defense - the last shield."  

On January 22, 2025, China's first Type 054B frigate, the Luohe, was commissioned at a naval port in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, the Type 054B has a displacement of approximately 5,000 tons. This new-generation frigate, independently developed and constructed by China, boasts advancements in stealth technology, combat command systems and firepower integration, significantly enhancing overall performance. With strong capabilities for comprehensive combat operations and diverse military missions, the warship will play a vital role in enhancing the overall combat effectiveness of naval task forces, Xinhua said.

The second Type 054B frigate of the PLA Navy, the Qinzhou, appeared in a poster released by the PLA South China Sea Fleet on April 12, 2025. Shortly after, the military channel of CCTV News reported on May 4, 2025 that the vessel was rapidly deployed for realistic training in the South China Sea. During its first live-fire exercise, the crew achieved a direct hit, successfully sinking a towed target.

Chinese military affairs expert Zhang Xuefeng described the Type 054B as one of the most advanced frigates in the world. He told the Global Times that the vessel achieves a balance across anti-submarine, anti-ship, and air defense capabilities, while leveraging new technologies to deliver a highly cost-effective design.

According to Zhang Xuefeng, this makes the Type 054B a strong candidate for large-scale production, enabling the PLA Navy to deploy more vessels to address diverse maritime threats.

Zhang Junshe, another Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that the Type 054B is an upgraded derivative of the Type 054A frigate, featuring greater displacement and longer operational range. These improvements allow it to undertake blue-water missions, including coordinated operations with carrier strike groups and advanced destroyers, as well as regional air defense and anti-submarine warfare tasks.