(File Photo)

The second C28A corvette made by China's Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, officially began use in the Algerian Navy on March 10.

Senior officials, including Ahmed Gaid Salah, Deputy Minister of National Defense and Chief of Staff of the People's National Army, attended the ceremony for the commission. 

In 2012, Algerian military officials signed a contract with China for the construction of three C28A corvettes to be fitted with Chinese and Western systems. This is the second corvette to enter service, following the first in November 2015. 

According to China Ship News, all three C28A corvettes are being constructed to the specifications of Lloyd's Register, a maritime classification society—a first for Chinese shipbuilders. New technologies and equipment were used, leading to improved comprehensive performance for the vessels. 

The C28A corvettes are around 120 meters long, 14.4 meters wide, and have a draft of 3.87 meters. Powered by MTU diesel engines, the warships feature some stealth elements, including the placement of their exhaust funnels by the waterline in order to reduce the infrared signature.

Each vessel is equipped with a stationary helicopter base, which can carry the Super Lynx military helicopters developed by AgustaWestland. 

All the C28A corvettes are equipped with Chinese weapons systems, including eight C-802 anti-ship missiles, a FM-90N launcher for short-range HQ-7 surface-to-air missiles, an H/PJ-26 76-millimeter main gun, two sets of Type 730 CIWS and two triple-tube 324-millimeter torpedo launchers. 

The corvettes are also fitted with Western electronic equipment and Smart-SMk2 radar systems from the French defense company Thales. However, all sensitive components and software will be installed only after the vessels have been delivered to Algeria, according to Britain’s Jane's Defence Weekly.