The commissioning, naming and flag-granting ceremony for the Type-056A frigate Suining (Hull 551) was held at a PLA Navy’s pier in southern Guangdong province on Tuesday, marking the frigate officially joined the PLA Navy’s battle sequences.

The ceremony began at 10:00 am on Nov.28. Yao Guowen, deputy commander of a naval base in Guangzhou, announced the commissioning and naming order. Sun Jian, political commissar of the naval base, presented the flag and naming certificate to the new frigate.

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The Type-056A frigate is the new surface warship developed by China independently. It is highly information-based and has good stealth performance and stronger combat capabilities against air, underwater and water surface targets.

Their propulsion system consists two diesel engines in a COmbined Diesel And Diesel (CODAD) configuration allowing for a top speed of 28 knots and a maximum range of 2,000 nautical miles at 18 knots.