Chinese frigate Nantong (601)

Nantong (601) is a Type 054A frigate of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She was commissioned on 23 January 2019.

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
Nantong was launched on 16 December 2017 at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai. Commissioned on 23 January 2019.