MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Xiangtan missile frigate, independently developed by China, was commissioned during a ceremony on Wednesday in the port city of Zhoushan in the eastern Zhejiang province, according to The People's Daily newspaper.
The ship is 140 meters (459.3 feet) long and 16 meters (52.5 feet) wide, with a full load displacement of up to 4,000 metric tons, according to the newspaper.
The Xiangtan, hull number FFG-531, is China's latest type 054A frigate. This class of frigates first entered into service with the People's Liberation Army Navy in 2008. Another frigate of this class, the Jingzhou frigate, hull number FFG-532, was commissioned into the East Sea Fleet on January 5.
A total of 22 type 054A frigates are currently in service with the Chinese navy, making this class of vessel the most numerous in the country. China plans to bring their total number to over 24.
