TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Navy is expected to finalize a design contract for its next-generation guided-missile frigate project in mid-May.
The Navy said it hopes the frigate will align with international trends when it enters the construction and mass production phases, according to Liberty Times. The ship will feature a dual hangar for maintaining and operating MH-60R anti-submarine helicopters and vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicles.
Regarding vertical takeoff and landing UAVs, a military source said the Navy’s design requirements specifically mention the MQ-35A V-BAT UAV or one with equivalent capabilities, Liberty Times reported.
The V-BAT UAV is developed and manufactured by US defense technology company Shield AI. The UAV uses a single-engine ducted-fan design, allowing it to take off and land vertically in confined spaces or on ship decks and transition to horizontal flight.
The V-BAT is also equipped with the Hivemind AI platform. This allows the drone to independently conduct reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and other missions in extreme environments where GPS signals are blocked or communications are jammed.
The Navy originally planned to build 4,500-tonne frigates, but later changed the design to 6,000 tonnes to fit all the combat systems. However, due to multiple design changes, the project was halted, and the budget for the prototype ship was redirected to the construction of prototypes for two light frigates.
The two light frigate prototypes will be completed by 2027. The prototypes include one air defense variant and one anti-submarine warfare variant, both currently under construction by domestic shipbuilders.
The total project includes 10 additional light frigates and costs NT$24.549 billion (US$766 million).
