Taiwan's New Weapon To Hunt China's Submarines

Taiwan 's navy has embarked on a project to develop a fleet of cutting-edge frigates, some primed for the task of tracking China 's submarines.

The urgency of the situation has prompted the Republic of China (ROC) Navy to modify its original plans, opting for two frigates with a tonnage of approximately 2,500 tons each instead of a single 4,500-ton frigate, Naval News reported on January 22.

The People's Republic of China claims Taiwan (the Republic of China) as its sovereign territory, despite the current government in Beijing never having ruled on the island

The ROC Navy's new-generation light frigates are slated to come in two distinct variants, one focusing on air defense and the other on anti-submarine warfare (ASW), a development that underscores the multifaceted nature of the naval challenge posed by the People's Liberation Army .

Construction of the first ship, designated as an anti-air warfare (AAW) variant, commenced in November 2023, according to Naval News .

The ambitious project envisions the delivery of the first two prototype ships by 2026, following which the Taiwanese navy plans to construct an additional 10 frigates. This is set to pave the way for the eventual decommissioning of aging Knox-class frigates, marking a critical transition in Taiwan's naval capabilities.

These vessels are set to be equipped with a formidable array of advanced weaponry and systems, including the CMS-330 Combat Management System, BAE ARTISAN radar, 76mm cannons, TC-2N surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), HF-3 anti-ship missiles, Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems, and S-70C anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters. While rumors of installation of the Sea Oryx short-range air defense system have circulated, this has yet to be confirmed.

The AAW variant will be capable of launching SAMs from vertical launch systems, while the ASW variant will rely on fixed-angle launchers for its SAMs. Additionally, the ASW variant will have torpedo capabilities, significantly enhancing its anti-submarine role.

In a statement to the Taiwanese parliament, ROC Navy Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Chiang Cheng-kuo disclosed that the frigates would feature sonar systems that are among the most advanced in the world.

However, he remained tight-lipped their country of origin, hinting at the sensitive nature of the project's international collaboration .

Han Pi-hsiang, CEO of Taiwan's most prominent private shipbuilder, Jong Shyn, last year confirmed signing a memorandum of understanding with Lockheed Martin. This heralds the potential entry of the American defense giant into the regional marketplace for small, multi-role warships, a development that hinges on the outcome of discussions between the U.S. and Southeast Asian governments, Newsweek reported in 2023.