China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has officially commissioned its first Type 054B frigate, the Luohe, at a ceremony held on Wednesday morning at a military port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. The Luohe, bearing the hull number \"545,\" marks a significant advancement in China's naval capabilities.
With a displacement of approximately 5,000 tonnes, the Luohe is a new-generation frigate independently developed and constructed by China. The vessel features cutting-edge stealth technology, advanced combat command systems, and integrated firepower capabilities, significantly enhancing its overall performance and adaptability in various combat scenarios.
The commissioning of the Luohe underscores China's commitment to modernizing its naval forces. The frigate's robust capabilities for comprehensive combat operations and diverse military missions is expected to play a vital role in enhancing the overall combat effectiveness of naval task forces.
The launch of the Type 054B frigate was previously confirmed by the Ministry of National Defense during a press conference in August 2023. Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian stated that the development of key combat vessels by the PLA Navy is a normal arrangement in accordance with relevant plans to meet national security requirements and aligns with overall naval development objectives.
\"This move aims to safeguard the country's sovereignty, security, and development interests while contributing to global and regional peace and stability,\" Wu said, emphasizing China's commitment to peaceful development and a defensive national defense policy.
The commissioning of the Luohe reflects the PLA Navy's ongoing efforts to enhance its maritime capabilities and demonstrates China's strategic focus on strengthening its naval presence in line with national defense objectives.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
