TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Navy has signed a contract for technical and management support services with the French defense consulting firm DCI Group to carry out performance upgrades for Taiwan’s fleet of Kang Ding-class frigates.
The contract, valued at NT$1.82 billion (US$57 million), will be executed over five and a half years and is expected to be completed by the end of 2031, Liberty Times reported.
Upgrades include the installation of the Hua Yang vertical launch system, built by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology. It is capable of firing the Sea Sword II surface-to-air missiles.
The ships will be outfitted with the BAE Systems Artisan radar and the French PASEO NS electro-optical fire control system, which significantly improves their ability to detect stealth targets, per Liberty Times.
The first upgraded frigate, the Cheng De, completed all modification tests in early February and quietly held its commissioning ceremony in Kaohsiung. The second upgraded frigate arrived in Kaohsiung in January.
The upgrades come as Taiwan is building 12 light frigates. The two prototypes include an air defense variant and an anti-submarine warfare variant.
The air defense variant will use a vertical launch system carrying 32 Sea Sword II surface-to-air missiles. The anti-submarine variant will use inclined launchers for 16 Sea Sword II missiles, supplemented by anti-submarine torpedoes and a towed sonar system. Delivery is expected in 2027.
