Chinese frigate Weifang (550)
# Chinese frigate Weifang (550)

Weifang (550) is a Type 054A frigate of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She was commissioned on 22 June 2013.

## Development and design

The Type 054A carries HQ-16 medium-range air defence missiles and anti-submarine missiles in a vertical launching system (VLS) system. The HQ-16 has a range of up to 50 km, with superior range and engagement angles to the Type 054's HQ-7. The Type 054A's VLS uses a hot launch method; a shared common exhaust system is sited between the two rows of rectangular launching tubes.

The four AK-630 close-in weapon systems (CIWS) of the Type 054 were replaced with two Type 730 CIWS on the Type 054A. The autonomous Type 730 provides improved reaction time against close-in threats.

## Construction and career

Weifang was launched on 9 July 2012 at the Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding in Shanghai. Commissioned on 22 June 2013.

## Gallery

* Weifang underway on 2 May 2014.
* Weifang underway on 3 May 2014.
* Weifang and INS Kora off Visakhapatnam, India in May 2014.
* Weifang underway on 19 March 2020.
