Engineering:Kang Ding-class frigate

Short description: Kang Ding class frigate

The Taiwanese frigate Wu Chang in 2013

Phalanx CIWS and Bofors 40 mm L70 gun aboard ROCN Di Hua

The Kang Ding-class frigate is based on the French design which were built by DCNS for Taiwan.

Background and design

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: 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 s. 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. The missiles will be quad-packed in a vertical launch system for future ROCN surface combatants, 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. In January 2025, it was reported that the first upgraded frigate would be due September 2025.

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.

Combat system performance improvement

ROC Navy has allocated NT$43.16 billion for the upgrade of its six Kang Ding-class frigates between FY 2021 and 2029. The modernization program focuses on improving radar and SAM systems to enhance anti-air warfare (AAW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and sea control capabilities.

The Kang Ding-class frigate upgrade includes a new Battle Management System (BMS) with improved radars, enhanced air defense, and a vertical launch system (VLS) for missiles. The goal is to increase the frigates' overall combat capability and defensive power.

As part of the upgrade, the Triton-G radar has been replaced with BAE Type 997 Artisan radar. In addition, the Hua Yang vertical launch system (華陽垂直發射系統), developed by Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), will be installed in the “B” turret position, replacing the RIM-72C Sea Chaparral. The Hua Yang VLS is reportedly capable of launching up to 32 TC-2N missile surface-to-air missiles with a range of 30 km (19 mi).

On July 28, 2025, Taiwan’s first upgraded La Fayette-class frigate was spotted departing Kaohsiung port for sea trials. Local ship spotters in Kaohsiung posted photos of Chen De (承德, PFG-1208) leaving port with the assistance of a service vessel. The departure was also captured by the live webcam of Hongmaogang Cultural Park (紅毛港文化園區) at around 10:00 a.m.

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  ROCN Kang Ding-class Frigate Combat System Performance Upgrade Project, Photos showing that the upgrade project for the Cheng-de frigate (承德,PFG-1208) was half completed in January 2025.
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  The Poseidon Triton-G radar on the Cheng-de frigate (承德,PFG-1208) has been removed and is being prepared to be replaced with the Type 997 Artisan radar coordinate search radar in January 2025.

Ships in class

Kang Ding class construction data

Hull number	Ship	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Status
PFG-1202	(康定)	DCNS	1993	1994	1996	In active service
PFG-1203	(西寧)		1994	1994	1996	In active service
PFG-1205	(昆明)		1994	1995	1997	In active service
PFG-1206	(迪化)		1995	1995	1997	In active service
PFG-1207	(武昌)		1995	1995	1997	In active service
PFG-1208	(承德)		1995	1996	1998	In active service

Taiwan frigate scandal

The Taiwan frigate deal was a huge political scandal, both in Taiwan and France. Eight people involved in the contract died in unusual and possibly suspicious circumstances. 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. In 2001, Swiss authorities froze accounts held by Andrew Wang and his family in connection to the scandal.

In 2003, the Taiwanese Navy sued Thomson-CSF (Thales) to recover the alleged $590 million in kickbacks, paid to French and Taiwanese officials, to grease the 1991 La Fayette deal. 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 returned $34 million from frozen accounts to Taiwan, with additional funds pending.

Andrew Wang died in the UK in 2015 and collection efforts continued against his family. In February 2021, the Federal Department of Justice and Police said that Switzerland will restitute nearly US$266 million to Taiwan.