China's third Type 054B frigate begins outfitting with apparent increase in missile capacity

Vantor imagery shows the PLAN's third Type 054B frigate undergoing outfitting at Hudong Changxingdao shipyard. A China Coast Guard Type 101 patrol vessel is berthed alongside. (Satellite image © 2026 Vantor/© 2026 Janes)

Satellite imagery captured in late June 2026 suggests that the People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN's) third Type 054B guided-missile frigate has entered the outfitting phase.

The imagery also suggests the warship may have been equipped with a greater number of vertical launching system (VLS) cells than the first-of-class Luohe and second-of-class Qinzhou .

In the satellite imagery, the third Type 054B frigate is seen berthed at a quay at the Hudong Changxingdao shipyard in Shanghai alongside a rail-mounted portal slewing crane, which is presumably being used for the outfitting.

Progress visible in the frigate's outfitting suggests that it was launched between late April and early June 2026.

The ship's mast structure appears to have been installed, and the vessel is at a significantly more advanced stage of construction than when it was last analysed by Janes in April 2026.

Most notably, the forward deck arrangement visible in the imagery appears to indicate six eight-cell VLS modules ahead of the bridge rather than the four modules fitted on the first two Type 054B frigates.

If confirmed, this would increase the third Type 054B frigate's missile magazine from 32 to 48 cells.

These launchers would likely accommodate HHQ-16-series surface-to-air missiles and Yu-8 rocket-assisted anti-submarine weapons.

The imagery also shows what appears to be a China Coast Guard (CCG) Type 101 offshore patrol vessel berthed immediately outboard of the frigate.

The latest imagery follows previous Janes