Taiwanese Navy’s First Revamped Kang Ding Frigate to Arrive This Year
The Republic of China Navy’s first modified Kang Ding-class frigate will arrive later this year after receiving upgrades as part of Taiwan’s 2021 modernization strategy.
The ROCS Chen De is the sixth ship of the fleet and will be the first to be completed under the effort by September 2025, according to an update from Taipei-based news agency The Liberty Times.
Similar to its sister ships, the vessel will be fitted with an advanced BAE Systems radar used by the Royal Navy and a new vertical launch system that can launch up to 32 surface-to-air missiles at a range of 30 kilometers (19 miles).
These replacements serve as a significant upgrade to the Kang Ding warships, considering that their base missile range can only reach a maximum of 6 kilometers (3.7 miles).
After the ROCS Chen De’s delivery, work on the five remaining frigates will continue until 2026.
The value of the overall project will amount to 43.15 billion New Taiwan dollars ($1.3 billion) if all options are exercised.
The Kang Ding Combat Vessel
Based on France’s La Fayette frigate model, the Taiwanese Kang Ding warship measures 125 meters (410 feet) long and has a 15-meter (49-foot) beam.
It can carry more than 120 sailors, two medium support boats, and a single helicopter similar to the Sikorsky S-70 utility helicopter.
The vessel is armed with a 76-millimeter naval gun, a 40-millimeter autocannon, a close=in weapon system, and anti-surface and anti-ship missiles.
The Kang Ding is equipped with four diesel engines with 21,000 total horsepower for a top speed of 25 knots (46 kilometers/29 miles per hour) and a range of 9,000 nautical miles (16,668 kilometers/10,357 miles).
