Red River Fleet Arranged at Huangyan Island: What Development Trajectories of the People's Navy Are Reflected by the Fifth Generation "Sea Tiger Boats"

At the end of January 2026, the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army organized naval and air forces to conduct combat readiness patrols in the territorial waters and airspace around China's Huangyan Island.

The Honghe ship is a 054A-class missile frigate independently developed by our country. Since its commissioning, it has delivered a deep blue report of 100,000 nautical miles over three years. It has an honorary title, which is "Sea Tiger Boat."

From the first generation 55-class gunboat to the second generation 62-class patrol boat, the third generation 037-class missile frigate, the fourth generation 056-class light frigate, and now the 054A-class missile frigate represented by the Honghe ship, the "Tiger Spirit" has been passed down through generations for more than half a century.

What development trajectories of the People's Navy are reflected in the five generations of "Sea Tiger Boats"?

Military expert Zhang Junsha: The "Sea Tiger Boat" has bravely stood firm in the blood-soaked maritime front, creating classic combat examples of the People's Navy's small boats engaging large ships in close combat at night, forging the "Sea Tiger Spirit" centered on bravery, tenacity, and the determination to win. Over more than half a century, the combat capabilities of the five generations of "Sea Tiger Boats" have transitioned from nearshore guerrilla warfare to operations in both near and far seas, becoming the first type of area air defense missile frigate equipped by the People's Navy, with strong long-range surveillance and air defense combat capabilities.

It can rely on a 32-cell vertical launch system and medium-range air defense missiles to construct an area air defense barrier, and can also conduct anti-ship and anti-submarine operations in the far sea. It can operate independently or integrate into carrier strike groups or amphibious assault groups, undertaking diverse combat missions such as air defense, anti-ship, anti-submarine, and land support.

Its endurance has expanded from about 700 nautical miles for early gunboats to over 4,000 nautical miles.

The development of the five generations of "Sea Tiger Boats" reflects the transformation of the People's Navy's strategy from nearshore defense to near-sea defense and far-sea defense, witnessing the development process of the People's Navy over more than 70 years from small to large, from weak to strong.

(Source: CCTV Defense Military Channel's "Li Jian" program)