Bangladesh receives two Chinese frigates amidst modernisation drive
In a handover ceremony at the Shenjia Shipyard in Shanghai on 18 December, the Bangladesh Navy (BN) took delivery of two former Chinese Type 053H3 frigates. An agreement for their acquisition had been signed in June 2018.
Earlier in 2019, Jiaxing and Lianyungang, with about 20 years of operational service each, were decommissioned from the Peoples Liberation Army Navy and sent for refitting at Shenjia prior to sea trials and delivery.
These respective frigates, now renamed BNS Abu Ubaidah (F19) and Umar Farooq (F16), are expected to arrive in Bangladesh in January.
Another project to build six frigates
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![How the Hormuz mine threat exposes potential Baltic MCM shortfalls]()
How the Hormuz mine threat exposes potential Baltic MCM shortfalls
Ageing Baltic vessels and an absence of active minehunting vessel programmes in the region have been put under the spotlight in the recent conflict.
-
![“We must end the mentality of ever larger platforms”: Why USVs are scaling]()
“We must end the mentality of ever larger platforms”: Why USVs are scaling
Multiple USV programme milestones announced last week, aligned with a reinforcement of the Royal Navy’s vision for a hybrid fleet, point to innovation-led ambition but also to a structural calculation with resource ceilings that neither London nor Washington can ignore.
-
![As uncrewed naval systems advance, capabilities to counter them are emerging]()
As uncrewed naval systems advance, capabilities to counter them are emerging
Research programmes and system procurement efforts to counter uncrewed surface and underwater vehicle threats are accelerating as naval drone uptake spreads.
-
![US Coast Guard to receive the first three Offshore Patrol Cutters in FY2026 and FY2027]()
US Coast Guard to receive the first three Offshore Patrol Cutters in FY2026 and FY2027
After recording a nearly six-year delay in the OPC schedule, the USCG intends to advance with the programme, reaching multiple milestones in the short term.
