TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The second upgraded Kang Ding-class frigate was recently seen outfitted with the Hua Yang vertical launching system (VLS) after approximately six months of upgrades.
A military source said the National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology selected hot-launch technology for the VLS because missiles are ignited inside their launch cells, enabling rapid successive launches, Liberty Times reported.
Although cold-launch systems avoid exposing the launch cell to the missile’s exhaust, a failure to ignite after a missile is ejected could cause it to fall back onto the ship, potentially resulting in catastrophic damage, per Liberty Times.
The first upgraded frigate, the Cheng De, completed all modification tests in early February and held its commissioning ceremony in Kaohsiung. The Navy plans to use the Cheng De as the benchmark and complete upgrades for all six frigates in phases by 2031, fully addressing gaps in the Navy’s medium-range air defense capabilities.
In addition to VSLs, the Kang Ding frigates will also be equipped 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.
