TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Navy on Tuesday (March 26) took delivery of its fifth and sixth domestically-made Tuo Chiang-class corvettes.
Accompanied by Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) and National Security Council Secretary-General Wellington Koo (顧立雄), President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) presided over the handover ceremony to the Navy of the An Chiang and Wan Chiang corvettes, reported FTV News. In the presence of Tsai, Lung Teh Shipbuilding Co. officially transferred certificates and models of the corvettes to the Navy, and Tsai personally inspected the two new high-performance ships.
While delivering remarks at the event, Tsai said: “Four years ago, I named the first high-performance vessel as the Ta Chiang. The character ”ta' (塔) symbolizes the work of building national defense capabilities domestically. As long as we persist, sand will accumulate into a tower. Over the past few years, we have steadfastly implemented national defense autonomy, with domestically built vessels being named, launched, and delivered at an increasingly faster pace."
Lung Teh Shipbuilding Co. Chair Huang Shou-chen (黃守真) said that the Tuo Chiang-class corvette possesses the "characteristics of a fast ship, with a maximum speed of over 40 knots when fully loaded. It has a shallow draft, enabling it to dock at fishing ports along the coast of Taiwan. It features a stealth design, making it less detectable. Additionally, it incorporates advanced and forward-looking automation and digital systems."
The Tuo Jiang-class corvette has a displacement of only 685 tons and can reach a maximum speed of 40 knots, approximately 74 kph. Although small, it is well-equipped with the subsonic Hsiung Feng II missiles and supersonic Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles, as well as the Sea Sword II air defense missiles, capable of striking aircraft carriers.
It is also armed with an OTO Melara 76 mm naval gun and a Phalanx close-in weapon system. With its capabilities for close combat, anti-ship, and air defense, along with its ability to punch above its weight, it serves as a crucial asset for asymmetric warfare.
The An Chiang and Wan Chiang corvettes are the last of the first batch of six corvettes to be delivered to the Navy, with a total of 11 to be built by the end of 2026.