Through US bravado China reminds US navy, PLA frigate can’t catch LCS but its missiles can, Sina warns

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PLA frigate can’t catch LCS but its missiles can, Sina warns

Changzhou, one of the PLA’s Type 054A guided-missile frigate. (Internet photo)

The capability of the PLA Navy’s Type 054A guided-missile frigate to take on the littoral combat ships of the US Navy was discussed in a piece by the Sina Military Network on May 22.

The USS Fort Worth, a Freedom-class littoral combat ship, had a run-in with the Yancheng, a PLA Navy’s Type 054A guided-missile frigate, while patrolling near the disputed Spratly islands in the South China Sea on May 11.

The encounter indicated that Type 054A was unable to chase a littoral combat ship designed to be faster and maneuverable. The Sina report said however that it is not necessary for a modern frigate to defeat its enemy with speed and maneuverability.

The article said that it is up to the frigate’s missiles, radar, electronic warfare systems and helicopters to determine the outcome of the confrontation. After the introduction of anti-ship missiles since the end of World War II, a modern destroyer or frigate can destroy an enemy warship without having visual contact, the piece said.

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