The information was first reported by local media LTN, quoting an anonymous source. It was previously reported that Xi Ning (西寧, PFG-1203) has been selected as the first ship to be upgraded, but in the end Chen De (承德, PFG-1208) became the first ship to be upgraded.
The upgrade items include replacing the DRBV-26D Jupiter II radar with the ARTISAN radar by BAE Systems. This radar system is already fitted on the in-service Type 23 frigate of the Royal Navy (following their upgrade) and will equip the future Type 26 frigates. The Hua Yang vertical launch system (華陽垂直發射系統) developed by NSCIST will be installed in the B turret position, replacing RIM-72C Sea Chaparral SAM system. The Hua Yang VLS is reportedly capable of launching up to 32 Taiwanese TC-2N SAMs with a range of 30 Km.
Taiwan’s navy has been criticized for decades for equipping Kang Ding-class frigates with RIM-72C which has an extremely short practical range of only 3 to 4 Km and a maximum range of 6 Km.
The remaining five ships will be refitted at a rate of one per year between 2026 and 2030.
Struggle for the budget
The ROC Navy requested NT$ 43.16 billion to upgrade Kang Ding-class frigates from FY 2021-2029. Radar and SAMs of the frigates will be upgraded in order to enhance AAW, ASW capabilities and conduct sea control missions. NT$ 7.28 billion was requested for upgrading the frigates in the FY 2025 budget.
However, pro-China annexation opposition lawmakers are still doing their best to disable the government by cutting the budget or freezing the funding of all the FY2025 budget, including the defense programs. It is still unclear whether the defense ministry and navy can secure the budget or not.
About Kang Ding-class Frigates
In the 1990s, Taiwan procured 6 new frigates based on the La Fayette design from France. However, Chinese intervention made Taiwan unable to secure French-made weapon systems for the ships.
Taiwan’s navy had to equip the ships with U.S. made and Taiwanese made weapon systems, including RIM-72C Sea Chaparral SAM system, which is considered inadequate for defense against modern anti-ship missiles and aircrafts.
The Kang Ding-class mainly conducts anti air warfare (AAW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), escort, anti-blockade, and joint surface interception operations.
The 6 Kang Ding class are: Kang Ding (康定, PFG-1202), Xi Ning (西寧, PFG-1203), Kun Ming (昆明, PFG-1205), Di Hua (迪化, PFG-1206), Wu Chang (武昌, PFG-1207), Chen De (承德, PFG-1208). All are named after provincial capitals in China under ROC’s pre-1949 political system
