TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Kang Ding-class frigate Cheng De is the first in its class to undergo a complete overhaul as part of the Navy’s efforts to modernize its older ships.
The frigates will be outfitted with new combat systems, radars, and air defense missiles, Liberty Times reported. Their short-range Sea Chaparral missiles will be replaced by medium-range, domestically produced TC-2N air defense missiles. The ships will be equipped with the Huayang vertical launch system, installed below the bow deck.
The entire project is expected to take three years. Once all Kang Ding frigates are modernized, the Navy plans to carry out performance enhancement for its Cheng Kung-class frigates. Their Standard I missiles will be replaced with Standard II missiles as the main air defense missiles.
The Huayang vertical launch system has passed testing but faces installation issues due to Chinese aircraft and military ships near Taiwan’s airspace and waters. The ramped-up activity has made it impossible to send more than two types of ships for performance enhancement, a military official said.