French
DeutschKang Ding-class frigate
.jpg) ROCS Kang 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 purpose frigate |
| 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 diesel SEMT 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 and helipad |
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The Kang Ding-class frigate is based on the French La Fayette-class frigate design which were built by DCNS for Taiwan.
Background and design[edit]
As the ROC (Taiwan)'s defensive stance is aimed towards the Taiwan Strait, the ROC 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 both anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and surface attack. The Exocet anti-ship missile was replaced by Taiwan-developed Hsiung Feng II missile and the anti-air warfare (AAW) weapon is the Sea Chaparral. The main gun is an Oto Melara 76 mm/62 Mk 75 gun, similar to its Singaporean counterparts, the Formidable-class frigates. Some problems in the integration of Taiwanese and French systems had been reported. The frigate carries a single Sikorsky 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 indigenous TC-2N in 2020.[2] The AMRAAM-class missiles will be quad-packed in a vertical 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. 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.[4]
The class's maximum speed is 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) with a maximum range of 4,000 nautical 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.[5]
Ships in class[edit]
| Number | Ship | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1202 | Kang Ding (康定) | DCNS | 1993 | 1994 | 1996 | In active service |
| 1203 | Si Ning (西寧) | 1994 | 1994 | 1996 | In active service | |
| 1205 | Kun Ming (昆明) | 1994 | 1995 | 1997 | In active service | |
| 1206 | Di Hua (迪化) | 1995 | 1995 | 1997 | In active service | |
| 1207 | Wu Chang (武昌) | 1995 | 1995 | 1997 | In active service | |
| 1208 | Chen De (承德) | 1995 | 1996 | 1998 | In active service |
Taiwan frigate scandal[edit]
The Taiwan frigate deal was a huge political scandal, both in Taiwan and France.[6] Eight people involved in the contract died in unusual and possibly suspicious circumstances.[7] Arms dealer Andrew Wang fled Taiwan to the UK after the body of presumptive whistleblower Captain Yin Ching-feng was found floating in the sea.[8] In 2001 Swiss authorities froze accounts held by Andrew Wang and family in connection to the Taiwan frigate scandal.[9]
In 2003, the Taiwanese Navy sued Thomson-CSF (Thales) to recover alleged $590 million in kickbacks, paid to French and Taiwanese officials to grease the 1991 La Fayette deal.[10] The money was deposited in Swiss banks, and under the corruption investigation, Swiss authorities froze approx. $730 million in over 60 accounts. In June 2007 the Swiss authority returned $34 million from frozen accounts to Taiwan, with additional funds pending.[11]
Andrew Wang died in the UK in 2015 and collection efforts continued against his family.[8] In February 2021, the Federal Department of Justice and Police said that Switzerland will restitute nearly US$266 million to Taiwan.[12]
References[edit]
- ^ "France authorizes frigate sale to Taiwan". Defense Daily. 2 October 1991. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
- ^ "La Fayette frigates' missile upgrade set for 2017". Focus Taiwan. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ Lundquist, Edward H. "Interview with Adm. Richard Chen, Republic of China Navy (Ret.)". Defense Media Network. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
- ^ Hsu, Tso-Juei (22 February 2021). "Taiwan To Upgrade Its La Fayette Frigates With New Air Defense & Combat Systems". navalnews.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ Chen, Kelvin (27 May 2021). "Taiwan Navy showcases upgraded cannons in live-fire drills". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ Trueheart, Charles (13 March 1998). "France Embroiled in Scandal du Jour". Washington Post. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- ^ Schofield, Hugh (1 December 2003). "Book delves into frigate scandal". BBC News. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ a b Pan, Jason (15 July 2021). "High Court orders return of illegal proceeds". www.taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
- ^ Kirby, Emma-Jane (2 July 2001). "Swiss target Taiwan arms dealer". news.bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- ^ "Navy sues French frigate contractor". Taipei Times. 7 November 2003. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ "Lafayette scandal funds returned to Taiwan". Taipei Times. 15 June 2007. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ "Progress made on return of illegal kickbacks in Lafayette Frigate case". Taiwan News. Central News Agency. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.