Naval Systems

Type 056 / Type 056A Jiangdao-class corvette

Also known as
  • Type 056
  • Type 056A
  • Type 056A Jiangdao-class corvette
  • Jiangdao-class corvette
  • Jiangdao-class light frigate
  • Jiangdao-class patrol corvette
  • Guang'an 622

The Type 056 / Type 056A Jiangdao-class corvette is a Chinese corvette family built in large numbers for littoral patrol, escort, surface warfare, and coastal anti-submarine work. The baseline Type 056 carried a 76 mm gun, YJ-83 anti-ship missiles, point-defense missiles, and torpedo tubes, while the Type 056A added towed-array and variable-depth sonar; the class has also appeared in South China Sea dispute patrol incidents.

Type 056 / Type 056A Jiangdao-class corvette, Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy corvette and anti-submarine-warfare corvette family, Naval Systems
Image source: Type 056 corvette in ShangHai.jpg

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Specifications

Displacement
About 1,500 tons
Length
About 90 m / 292 ft
Beam
About 11.6 m / 38 ft
Draft
About 4.3 m / 14 ft
Speed
About 25-30 knots
Crew
About 60-78
Range
About 2,000 nmi at 18 knots or 3,500 nmi at 16 knots, depending on source
Armament
76 mm H/PJ-26 main gun, two 30 mm H/PJ-17 autocannons, four YJ-83 anti-ship missiles, eight-cell HHQ-10/FL-3000N point-defense launcher, and two triple 324 mm torpedo tubes
Sensors
Type 360 air/surface search radar; Type 347G fire-control radar; hull-mounted sonar; Type 056A variants add passive towed-array and active variable-depth sonar
Aviation
Stern landing deck for a Z-9-size helicopter, without a hangar
Design And Mission Fit

The Jiangdao family was built as a compact near-seas combatant between missile boats and larger frigates. Its source-backed fit emphasizes patrol presence, surface engagement, point defense, and light anti-submarine tasks rather than sustained blue-water operations.

Production model

Four Chinese shipyards delivered the PLAN run, allowing rapid output across a nine-year production period.

ASW split

The Type 056A kept the corvette hull but added towed-array and variable-depth sonar for a stronger submarine-detection role.

Coast guard conversion

Reported conversions of baseline Type 056 hulls removed missile and torpedo launchers before transfer to China Coast Guard service.

Variants

The PLAN family is usually divided between the baseline Type 056 patrol corvette and the Type 056A anti-submarine-warfare variant; export derivatives use related hull designs with customer-specific fits.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Type 056Baseline PLAN corvette

Twenty-two baseline ships were built before production shifted to the more ASW-focused Type 056A; the baseline hulls were later reported moving to China Coast Guard service after weapons removal.

Sources: China's Jiangdao-class Corvette: Mainstay of the First Island Chain, China Transferring Navy Type 056 Corvettes to the Coast Guard

Type 056APLAN anti-submarine-warfare corvette

The Type 056A adds passive towed-array and active variable-depth sonar, giving the later production run a stronger anti-submarine role.

Sources: China's Jiangdao-class Corvette: Mainstay of the First Island Chain, Chinese navy commissions final two Jiangdao-class corvettes

P18NNigerian Navy offshore patrol variant

The P18N export derivative is a slightly larger offshore patrol ship variant operated by Nigeria.

Sources: China's Jiangdao-class Corvette: Mainstay of the First Island Chain, Jiangdao Class (Type 056) Corvette, China

C13BBangladesh Navy export corvette

Four modified C13B-design corvettes are identified in USNI's overview as Bangladesh-operated export variants.

Sources: China's Jiangdao-class Corvette: Mainstay of the First Island Chain

Carried Anti-Ship Missile

Open naval references identify the YJ-83 as the class's deck-mounted anti-ship missile fit on PLAN corvettes.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
YJ-83 anti-ship cruise missile, Subsonic anti-ship cruise missile, MunitionsYJ-83 anti-ship cruise missileAnti-ship cruise missile

USNI Proceedings describes the Jiangdao class carrying four YJ-83 anti-ship missiles amidships; Janes also identifies four deck-mounted launchers capable of firing YJ-83 missiles.

Sources: China's Jiangdao-class Corvette: Mainstay of the First Island Chain, Chinese navy commissions final two Jiangdao-class corvettes

Timeline

Type 056 / Type 056A Jiangdao-class corvette Key Events

  1. First Type 056 enters PLAN service

    The first Type 056 corvette entered PLAN service in March 2013, beginning the class's operational run.

    Sources: Jiangdao Type-056 Frigate/Corvette (FFL)

  2. Final Type 056A corvettes commissioned

    Janes reported that Nanyang (619) and Shangqiu (618), both Type 056A anti-submarine-warfare variants, were the final two Jiangdao-class corvettes to enter PLAN service.

    Sources: Chinese navy commissions final two Jiangdao-class corvettes

  3. Baseline Type 056 transfers to China Coast Guard reported

    Naval News reported that China had begun transferring baseline Type 056 corvettes without variable-depth sonar from the PLAN to the China Coast Guard, with missile and torpedo launchers removed in the observed conversion.

    Sources: China Transferring Navy Type 056 Corvettes to the Coast Guard

  4. Guang'an radar-lock incident near Sabina Shoal

    Philippine and defense reporting said Type 056A corvette Guang'an (622) directed fire-control radar at BRP Miguel Malvar during a sovereignty patrol in the South China Sea.

    Sources: Chinese Warship Locks Fire Control Radar on Philippine Warship, Manila Says, BRP Miguel Malvar faces fire control radar from Chinese navy ship

Media

Type 056 / Type 056A Jiangdao-class corvette Videos

Type 056 / Type 056A Jiangdao-class corvette Images

Type 056 / Type 056A Jiangdao-class corvette, Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy corvette and anti-submarine-warfare corvette family, Naval Systems - view 1
Source: Type 056 corvette anti-ship missiles.jpg
Type 056 / Type 056A Jiangdao-class corvette, Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy corvette and anti-submarine-warfare corvette family, Naval Systems - view 2
Source: Type 056 corvette FL-3000N 8-round SAM launcher.jpg
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Sources

Jiangdao Type-056 Frigate/Corvette (FFL)Publisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports the family overview, coastal-patrol and general-presence role, baseline Type 056 background, and the Type 056A anti-submarine variant context. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Jiangdao Type 056A ASW VariantPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports the Type 056A anti-submarine-warfare variant and its place in the Jiangdao family. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Jiangdao Type-056 Frigate SpecificationsPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports class specifications including displacement, length, speed, crew, sensors, and weapon fit. | Accessed: 2026-07-03China's Jiangdao-class Corvette: Mainstay of the First Island ChainPublisher: U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings | Note: Supports production totals, shipyards, mission context, Type 056 and Type 056A variant split, export variants, armament, sensors, and major dimensions. | Accessed: 2026-07-03China Transferring Navy Type 056 Corvettes to the Coast GuardPublisher: Naval News | Note: Supports reporting on baseline Type 056 transfers to the China Coast Guard and observed conversion changes that removed missile and torpedo launchers. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Chinese navy commissions final two Jiangdao-class corvettesPublisher: Janes | Note: Supports the final Type 056A commissioning, the 22 Type 056 and 50 Type 056A split, and Type 056A sonar and YJ-83 weapon-fit details. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Jiangdao Class (Type 056) Corvette, ChinaPublisher: Naval Technology | Note: Supports builder names, lead-ship context, general dimensions, armament, and P18N export-variant context. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Chinese Warship Locks Fire Control Radar on Philippine Warship, Manila SaysPublisher: USNI News | Note: Directly supports the South China Sea Disputes conflict-use row: used by the People's Republic of China in a March 2026 Sabina Shoal incident, with the Type 056A-class Guang'an directing fire-control radar at BRP Miguel Malvar. | Accessed: 2026-07-03BRP Miguel Malvar faces fire control radar from Chinese navy shipPublisher: GMA News Online | Note: Directly supports the South China Sea Disputes conflict-use row: used by the People's Republic of China in a March 2026 Sabina Shoal sovereignty-patrol incident involving Chinese navy ship 622 and BRP Miguel Malvar. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Category:Type 056 frigatePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the class designation, country of origin, operators, manufacturer list, total-produced figure, and media provenance context. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Type 056 corvette in ShangHai.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports primary image provenance for a Type 056 corvette photo. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Type 056 corvette anti-ship missiles.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance for a Type 056 corvette photo. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Type 056 corvette FL-3000N 8-round SAM launcher.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance for the Type 056 family's close-in air-defense launcher fit. | Accessed: 2026-07-03