WDS 2026: China Presents Type 056 Jiangdao as 1,500-Ton Light Frigate for Patrol and Coastal Warfare.

China State Shipbuilding Corporation presented the Type 056 Jiangdao at the World Defense Show 2026 under the designation of a 1,500-ton light frigate. The ship is not a new design but a direct export presentation of a corvette already widely deployed by the Chinese Navy.

At the World Defense Show 2026, China State Shipbuilding Corporation introduced a 1,500-ton surface combatant marketed internationally as a light frigate, corresponding directly to the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s Type 056 Jiangdao class. While CSSC has applied alternative labels such as guided missile frigate for export audiences, the vessel represents the same in-service Type 056 design, retaining its original hull form, displacement, and mission profile rather than constituting a separate or newly developed class.
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The Type 056 Jiangdao, presented by China State Shipbuilding Corporation as a 1,500-ton light frigate at the World Defense Show 2026 (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The vessel has a displacement of around 1,500 tonnes, with a length close to 92 meters, a beam of approximately 11 meters, and a draught of about 6.3 meters. These dimensions closely match those of the Type 056 and Type 056A variants, which are designed for patrol, escort, and maritime approach protection missions. The stated maximum speed reaches 22 knots, while the range is given as around 2,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 18 knots, enabling extended regional deployments. The crew is limited to around 60 personnel, reflecting a design focused on reduced manning and streamlined operation of onboard systems.

The armament corresponds to the standard configuration associated with the Type 056 class. The vessel is equipped with surface-to-air missiles and surface-to-surface missiles, providing self-defense and engagement capability against surface targets. The main gun armament is based on a 76 mm naval gun mounted forward, a common caliber for ships of this size, suitable for maritime security missions as well as engagements against light naval targets. Two single-barreled 30 mm guns complete the weapon suite, providing close-range protection against asymmetric or short-range threats.

Anti-submarine warfare capabilities are also integrated, with a hull-mounted echo sonar and torpedo launchers, a configuration consistent with the operational role assigned to the Type 056 within the Chinese Navy. This capability allows the vessel to operate independently or in coordination with other units during underwater surveillance missions, particularly in littoral zones and constrained maritime environments.

Taken together, these characteristics confirm that the 1,500-ton light frigate presented by CSSC directly incorporates the technical and operational attributes of the Type 056 Jiangdao. The use of the light frigate designation reflects an export-oriented classification choice commonly applied in the international naval market, where such platforms are positioned as an intermediate solution between offshore patrol vessels and conventional frigates.

As a shipbuilder, China State Shipbuilding Corporation relies on an established serial production base and industrial experience gained through the construction of numerous units for the Chinese Navy as well as for foreign customers. The international dissemination of platforms derived from the Type 056 illustrates CSSC’s approach of offering compact surface combatants designed for patrol, escort, and maritime security missions, contributing to the wider spread of light frigates and modern corvettes among navies seeking to enhance their naval capabilities without investing in larger combatants.