China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) will reportedly build a trimaran boat in 2018 that would serve as a frigate for the Navy and for export, You Yue, deputy director for China Shipbuilding Trading Company, said.

"We are in the development and design phase of the project... The plan form is fixed but many details remain," You said as quoted by Defense News.

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A model of the ship was exhibited by the China Shipbuilding Trading Company at the IDEX 2017 defense exposition in Abu Dhabi. According to Jane's Defense Weekly, the warship, which uses a three-hull trimaran design, bears some similarities to the USS Independence LCS-2 (littoral combat ship).

#China desenvolve #fragata com casco ‘trimaran’https://t.co/gkqadB9y2h#IDEX2017 pic.twitter.com/Er93uIyEct

— DefesaeSeguranca (@DefesaSeguranca) February 22, 2017

PLAN's multihull ship weighs 2,450 tons with an estimated length of 465 feet and width of 105 feet. It is powered by diesel engines equipped with a marine electric propulsion system, with a 5,000 nautical mile range at 16 knots. Its cruising speed could reach 25 knots and could sprint between 30 and 35 knots.

You, however, noted that the model does not necessarily provide the accurate replication of the current ship. A spokesperson from the company also confirmed that the figures from the model could differ from production, with speeds likely to go pass 30 knots. And the company is also reportedly considering of an all-MTU diesel-propulsion plant, driving three pumpjets, Sputnik News reported.

The model could also catered some weapons including a 76mm or 100mm range gun; a vertical launch system for surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-surface missiles in canister launchers amidships, close-in weapon system, to name a few.

But how does a trimaran ship really differ from the rest? The major distinction is that it has three hulls - one large, central one, and two rearward smaller hulls interconnected by either decks or griders. Such design could give more room to operate for more aircrafts.

The frigate design also has a two-door hanger for helicopters and vertical take-off landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), according to Popular Science. Side doors are also present to launch small boats, although no stern doors or mission bays are found below the flight deck.

While the design is still being finalized, the PLAN trimaran frigate is slated to begin production in 2018.

TagsChina Shipbuilding Trading Company, People's Liberation Army Navy, IDEX 2017, trimaran ship, USS LCS-2