Taiwan begins work on improved variant of Tuo Jiang-class corvette

Lung Teh has begun work on an improved variant of the Tuo Jiang class, the first of which is seen here during its sea trials. (Lung Teh)

Taiwan’s Lung Teh Shipbuilding has formally begun work on a follow-on batch for three more Tuo Jiang-class missile corvettes for the Republic of China Navy (RoCN).

A company official who spoke to Jane’s on 29 May confirmed that all three vessels will inherit major features of the first-of-class, Tuo Jiang , which was also constructed by Lung Teh in 2012. These include its wave-piercing catamaran hull form, and waterjet propulsion.

However, the three new vessels will feature several modifications that seek to improve its stability, said the official. The ships will also be equipped for more weapons, and mission systems, but details of these cannot be disclosed given confidentiality clauses with the customer, said the official.

The Tuo Jiang class has been jointly designed by the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense’s (MND’s) Naval Shipbuilding Development Center (NSDC) and the Taipei-based Ship Ocean Industries Research and Development Center (SOIC). The vessel has an overall length of 60.4 m, an overall beam of 14 m, and a draught of 2.3 m. It displaces 567 tonnes at full load, and has a crew complement of 41.

In addition, the first-of-class that was inducted in 2015, the RoCN has further requirements for 11 more vessels of the type. The ships are being ordered in three flights of 3+3+4, and each flight will progressively be improved according to feedback from its operators, said the Lung Teh official.

The first vessel in the first flight is expected to be delivered in 2021, while the third ship is scheduled for handover in 2025.