Taiwan’s President, Lai Ching-te, presided over the ceremony, which was accompanied by senior officials and local politicians. Among those in attendance were National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu, Defense Minister Wellington Koo, Navy Chief Admiral Tang Hua, and Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Mai.
President Lai commended the progress made in Taiwan’s domestic shipbuilding efforts and expressed gratitude to all contributors, including Jong Shyn Shipbuilding Group, the Ministry of National Defense, the Navy, and the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), for their dedication. The president emphasized that their work not only advances Taiwan’s defense capabilities but also supports national industry growth, marking new milestones for self-defense.
Taiwan’s New Generation Frigate Program
The new generation frigate is part of the 12-item force-building plan unveiled by the Republic of China (ROC) Navy in 2016. The initial objective was to develop a 4,500-ton vessel equipped with electronically scanned array (ESA) radar systems. The ROC Navy submitted its requirements to NCSIST; however, the project stalled when the Navy revised its specifications to include an active ESA radar system. NCSIST faced challenges in developing a compact active ESA radar suitable for a 4,500-ton vessel.
The program’s focus later shifted from building a single 4,500-ton frigate to constructing two lighter, approximately 2,500-ton frigates to meet the urgent need for tracking Chinese naval activity and replacing the aging Knox-class frigates. This new approach includes two variants: one for air defense and the other for anti-submarine warfare. The construction of the new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) light frigate commenced in January 2024.
There are also reports suggesting a potential revival of the initial large-frigate plan, with plans to equip the vessel with a U.S.-made AN/SPY-7 active phased array radar. However, no relevant allocations were found in Taiwan’s FY 2025 defense budget request.
Taiwan’s Current Large Surface Combatants
Taiwan’s navy currently maintains a surface fleet of 26 ships, most of which were commissioned between the 1990s and early 2000s. The fleet comprises four Kee Lung-class destroyers, ten Cheng Kung-class frigates, six Kang Ding-class frigates (based on the French La Fayette-class), and six Chi Yang-class frigates (formerly American Knox-class).
Fifteen of these vessels have been in service for over 25 years, with the six Chi Yang-class frigates being especially aged, ranging between 47 and 51 years old. These frigates are equipped with steam turbines, a technology now considered obsolete, and they offer limited air defense capabilities.
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