.jpg) ROCSKang Ding | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Kang Ding class |
| Builders | DNCS |
| Operators |  Republic of China Navy |
| In commission | 1996–present |
| Completed | 6 |
| Active | 6 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | General purposefrigate |
| Displacement | 3,200 tonnes, 3,800 tonnes fully loaded |
| Length | 125 m (410 ft) |
| Beam | 15.4 m (51 ft) |
| Draught | 4.1 m (13 ft) |
| Propulsion | 4 dieselSEMT Pielstick 12PA6V280 STC2, 21,000 hp (16,000 kW) |
| Speed | 25 kn (46 km/h; 29 mph) |
| Range |
|
| Endurance | 50 days of food |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 2 × ETN boats |
| Capacity | 350 tonnes of fuel, 80 m³ of kerosene, 60 tonnes of potable water |
| Complement |
|
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Armament |
|
| Armour | On sensitive areas (munition magazine and control centre) |
| Aircraft carried | 1 ×Sikorsky S-70C (M) |
| Aviation facilities | Hangar andhelipad |
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TheKang Ding-class frigate is based on the FrenchLa Fayette-class frigate design which were built byDCNS forTaiwan.
As the ROC (Taiwan)'s defensive stance is aimed towards theTaiwan Strait, theROC Navy is constantly seeking to upgrade its anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The US$1.75 billion agreement with France in the early 1990s was an example of this procurement strategy:[1] the six ships are configured for bothanti-submarine warfare (ASW) and surface attack. TheExocet anti-ship missile was replaced by Taiwan-developedHsiung Feng II missile and theanti-air warfare (AAW) weapon is theSea Chaparral. The main gun is anOto Melara 76 mm/62 Mk 75 gun, similar to its Singaporean counterparts, theFormidable-class frigates. Some problems in the integration of Taiwanese and French systems had been reported. The frigate carries a singleSikorsky S-70C(M)-1/2 ASW helicopter.
The Sea Chaparral SAM system is considered inadequate for defense against aircraft and anti-ship missiles, so the ROCN plans to upgrade its air-defense capabilities with the indigenousTC-2N in 2020.[2] The missiles will be quad-packed in avertical launch system for future ROCN surface combatants,[3] but a less-risky alternative arrangement of above-deck, fixed oblique launchers is seen as more likely for upgrading these French-built frigates.
In 2021, it was reported that Taiwan would upgrade the frigates of this class with new air defence and combat systems.[4] The upgrades were to begin in 2022 and would follow on the modernization of the ships' decoy launching systems under a contract awarded in 2020.[5]
The class's maximum speed is 25knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) with a maximum range of 4,000nautical miles (7,400 km; 4,600 mi).
The class's Mk 75 main guns have been upgraded and have an improved firing rate of 100 rounds a minute.[6]
| Hull number | Ship | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFG-1202 | Kang Ding (康定) | DCNS | 1993 | 1994 | 1996 | In active service |
| PFG-1203 | Si Ning (西寧) | 1994 | 1994 | 1996 | In active service | |
| PFG-1205 | Kun Ming (昆明) | 1994 | 1995 | 1997 | In active service | |
| PFG-1206 | Di Hua (迪化) | 1995 | 1995 | 1997 | In active service | |
| PFG-1207 | Wu Chang (武昌) | 1995 | 1995 | 1997 | In active service | |
| PFG-1208 | Chen De (承德) | 1995 | 1996 | 1998 | In active service |
The Taiwan frigate deal was a huge political scandal, both in Taiwan and France.[7] Eight people involved in the contract died in unusual and possibly suspicious circumstances.[8] Arms dealer Andrew Wang fled Taiwan to the UK after the body of presumptivewhistleblower Captain Yin Ching-feng was found floating in the sea.[9] In 2001, Swiss authorities froze accounts held by Andrew Wang and his family in connection to the scandal.[10]
In 2003, the Taiwanese Navy suedThomson-CSF (Thales) to recover the alleged $590 million inkickbacks, paid to French and Taiwanese officials, to grease the 1991La Fayette deal.[11] The money was deposited inSwiss banks, and under the corruption investigation, Swiss authorities froze approx. $730 million in over 60 accounts. In June 2007, the Swiss returned $34 million from frozen accounts to Taiwan, with additional funds pending.[12]
Andrew Wang died in the UK in 2015 and collection efforts continued against his family.[9] In February 2021, theFederal Department of Justice and Police said that Switzerland will restitute nearly US$266 million to Taiwan.[13]