The Taiwanese Navy received its first fast missile corvette of the Tuo Chiang class on Tuesday.
The handover ceremony was presided over by Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng at the Suao Naval Base in Yilan County, eastern Taiwan.
The corvette, named the Ta Chiang, has better stability and stealth capabilities than a predecessor launched in 2014, according to the navy.
The ship is equipped with Taiwanese-made weapon systems such as the Hsiungfeng II and III anti-ship missiles and Sea Sword II air defense missile system. It also features a 76 mm cannon and Phalanx weapons system.
Asymmetric Counter to Chinese Navy
The first Tuo Chiang-class vessel was delivered to the navy in 2014. The 60.4-meter (198-foot) ship has a maximum speed of 30 knots (55.56 kilometers or 34 miles per hour), displacement of 685 tons, and an operational range of 1,800 nautical miles (3,333 kilometers or 2,071 miles).
Taipei is building the Tuo Chiang class of vessels as an asymmetric counter to the amphibious capability of the Chinese Navy.
The navy expects a total of six indigenous ships of the class before 2023. Five additional vessels could be built thereafter, according to Janes.