# naval modernization
Latest news and articles about naval modernization
Total: 14 articles found
Why Beijing Called Its 052D a 'Frigate' at a Saudi Arms Fair — and Why It Matters
At the Riyadh defense expo, Chinese displays labeled the 052D destroyer as a “6,000-ton-class frigate,” prompting debate about nomenclature, export strategy and fleet planning. The shift likely reflects marketing calculations and wider international trends toward larger, multi-mission 'frigates,' while leaving the ship’s combat capabilities unchanged and possibly clearing conceptual space for even larger PLAN surface combatants.
South Korea Eyes Drone 'Aircraft Carriers' — 42,000‑Ton Design Signals New Naval Strategy
South Korea displayed designs for unmanned aircraft carriers, including a 42,000‑ton concept, and plans to upgrade existing amphibious ships to operate drones and coordinate manned‑unmanned missions. The initiative signals a doctrinal shift toward drone‑centric naval power, with implications for regional deterrence, industrial capacity and alliance interoperability.
At Home for New Year, PLA Stresses It’s Always Battle-Ready
Chinese military media have spotlighted a theme of intensified combat readiness over the Spring Festival, showing front-line units from coastal missile crews to high-altitude sentries staying on duty. The coverage ties operational readiness to political training and organizational strengthening, sending both domestic reassurances and external deterrent signals amid ongoing regional tensions.
South Korea Bets on Drone Carriers to Extend Naval Reach — 42,000‑ton Concept Joins 15,000 and 32,000 Designs
South Korea showcased concepts for large unmanned aircraft carriers — notably a 42,000‑tonne design — and plans to retrofit its Dokdo and Marado amphibious ships for UAV operations. The move signals a strategic shift toward unmanned naval aviation that could expand Seoul’s expeditionary reach and create new industrial opportunities, even as technical, budgetary and geopolitical challenges persist.
US Navy’s New Ford‑Class Carrier 'John F. Kennedy' Completes First Builder’s Sea Trials
The US Navy announced that the second Ford‑class carrier, John F. Kennedy (CVN‑79), completed its builder’s sea trials on February 4 at Huntington Ingalls’ Newport News shipyard. The milestone tests propulsion and core systems ahead of further trials, crew training and eventual commissioning, and will be closely watched for signs that earlier Ford‑class problems are being resolved.
From Coastal Raiders to Blue‑Water Guardians: How the PLA Navy’s ‘Sea Tigers’ Repackaged Tradition into Modern Power Projection
The PLA Navy has ceremonially passed the storied “Sea Tiger” mantle to the modern frigate Red River, using the event to showcase institutional reform, rigorous training and an expanding blue‑water operational tempo. The blend of veteran mentorship, political education and technical innovation reflects a PLAN determined to convert legacy prestige into sustained expeditionary capability.
From Oars to Missiles: China’s Navy Recasts a Small-Boat Legend to Inspire a Modern Fleet
China’s PLAN staged a ceremonial handover of the “Sea Tiger” honor from Cold War veterans to the crew of the modern frigate Honghe, using storytelling and ritual to link small-boat heroism to contemporary naval professionalism. The event highlights Beijing’s effort to fuse historical legend with technical modernization to strengthen morale and operational culture in a rapidly upgrading navy.
Sailors' Notebooks and a Navy's Confidence: Inside the Baotou Ship's 'Voyage Diaries'
Personal voyage diaries kept by sailors aboard the PLAN destroyer Baotou provide a window into the Chinese navy’s operational learning, technical integration and morale-building during long deployments. The entries illuminate both the quotidian work of mastering new systems and the strategic aim of projecting steady, professional maritime presence.
China’s New 054B Frigate Marks a Step Change in Stealth, Sensors and Ship Size
China’s new 054B frigates, commissioned in early 2025, represent a significant upgrade in hull size, stealth profiling and sensor integration for the PLAN. The class’s 5,000-ton displacement, integrated stealth mast with dual-sided phased-array radar and a new 100 mm gun point to enhanced endurance, survivability and fleet networking, though key weapon-fit details remain unspecified.
Luohe Enters the Fleet: China’s 5,000‑ton 054B Frigate Narrows the Gap with Destroyers
China’s first 054B frigate, the Luohe (545), has completed its first year in service, showcasing notable improvements in stealth, sensors and weapons density compared with the previous 054A. The 5,000‑ton ship narrows the capability gap with destroyers and Western frigates, fitting Beijing’s strategy of producing a higher number of capable, cost‑effective surface combatants for extended far‑sea operations.
China’s New 054B Frigate Marks a Step Change in Stealth, Sensors and Firepower
China celebrated the one-year anniversary of the 054B frigate Luohe entering service, highlighting stepped-up stealth, sensors and weaponry in a 5,000-ton hull. The class narrows the capability gap with destroyers and Western frigates, and is intended to provide scalable, cost-effective escort and blue-water capability for the PLAN.
China’s New 054B Frigate Marks First Year of Operational Integration for a More Networked Navy
The PLA Navy’s first 054B frigate, Luohe (545), has completed its first year of service after commissioning in January 2025, conducting repeated live-fire drills and routine at-sea training. The class is intended to enhance early warning, information processing and integrated combat functions, making it a force-multiplier within fleet networks rather than a standalone game-changer.