Type 022 missile boat

The Type 022 is a class of Chinese catamaran missile boat. It entered service with the People's [Liberation Army Navy] in 2004.
It is sometimes called the "Type 22".

Development

In the 1980s, Chinese naval strategy shifted from coastal to offshore operations. By the late-1990s, the PLAN wanted fast attack craft with greater range and seakeeping. The Type 022 was likely a response to the requirement. In the early-2000s, China made an abortive attempt to purchase Tarantul-class corvettes from Russia.
The Type 022 is based on AMD Marine Consulting's AMD 350 catamaran hull and developed further by Seabus International in Guangzhou; Seabus was a joint venture between AMD and China State Shipbuilding Corporation's Guangzhou Marine Engineering Corporation.
The prototype launched from Qiuxin Shipyard in Shanghai in April 2004. Production occurred from at least six shipyards before ending in 2009.
In October 2025, Janes reported that Indonesia planned to acquire the Type 022.

The Type 022 has a wave-piercing catamaran hull made of aluminium. The hull is reportedly manufactured using friction stir welding. Radar cross section-reduction features are incorporated, including a stealthy turret for the AK-630.
The boat only has line of sight sensors. Longer-range fire in coordination with other units is enabled by tactical data links.
According to a 2014 report from the U.S. Naval War College's China Maritime Studies Institute, the boat's speed and aluminium hull makes it difficult to attack with torpedoes with magnetic detonators.
Later boats received a FLS-1 launcher on bridge for QW man-portable surface-to-air missile.

Type 022s in the PLAN typically deploy in squadrons of eight. During exercises, they have fired coordinated missile salvoes using third-party targeting data. Their missions may include coastal defense, Intelligence, surveillance, [target acquisition, and reconnaissance|ISR], and supporting offensive operations outside territorial waters.