An upgraded Type 053H3 frigate is equipped with a new HHQ-10 anti-aircraft missile system, as seen in a video the Chinese People's Liberation Army East China Sea Fleet released on Tuesday. Photo: Screenshot from China Central Television

 

 

With a new anti-aircraft missile system and a new type of close-in weapon system, an upgraded Type 053H3 frigate participated in a recent naval exercise, and analysts expect it to become a powerful addition to China's offshore defense force.

The Type 053H3 frigate, which underwent a midlife modernization program, was seen for the first time after the upgrade participating in a real combat scenario exercise in an official report, Weihutang, a column on military affairs affiliated with China Central Television, reported on Wednesday.

The official report Weihutang mentioned is a statement the Chinese People's Liberation Army East China Sea Fleet released on its WeChat public account on Tuesday, which included a video showing the warship during the drills.

Weihutang said that the Type 053H3 frigate had replaced its old HHQ-7 short-range surface-to-air missile with the more advanced HHQ-10 anti-aircraft missile system, identifiable through the video.

It is also equipped with a new type of close-in weapon system, believed to be developed from the Russian AK-630 naval close-in weapon system based on a six-barreled 30 mm rotary cannon, Weihutang said.

After the midlife modernization program, the Type 053H3 has become significantly more powerful, Weihutang said, noting that the fact it is still equipped with short-range weapons means the ship is more likely to conduct offshore defense missions, partnering the more advanced but smaller Type 056 corvette.

Having entered naval service about 20 years ago, the original Type 053H3 frigates are becoming obsolete at a time when China has developed the newer Type 054 frigate and Type 056 corvette, a military expert who asked not to be named told the Global Times on Thursday, noting that a midlife modernization was a move to make the best out of the ships' remaining potential.