Posted on 06/26/2016 11:15:41 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
The Republic of China Navy (ROCN) Program Office recently announced in Taipei a major indigenous development programme spanning ten vessel types. It represents a desire for Taiwan to be less dependent on the US for naval requirements.
Indigenous production calls for spending of US$14.7 billion over a 23-year period out to 2040, including submarines, destroyers, guided missile frigates, landing platform docks (LPD), 2,500t multipurpose transports, additional catamaran-hulled Tuo Jiang-class corvettes, rescue vessel, ocean surveillance ship, minelayers and tugboats.
Interestingly, an ROCN press release a day earlier included a landing helicopter dock (LHD), but it disappeared at the official briefing without explanation. A hospital ship proposed by President Tsai Ing-wen did not appear on the list either.
This is Taiwan’s first ambitious shipbuilding programme after the La Fayette-class frigate scandal occurred, with the ROCN avoiding developing such projects since 1993.
The ROCN has only built ships like patrol craft, auxiliary vessels and landing craft in recent years. Unveiling of the future force development shows the ROCN has enough confidence to improve its ageing fleet.
The new principal surface warship is a 6,000-8,000t destroyer equipped with systems developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology (NCSIST), including a vertical launching system, phased-array radar, C2 system and surface-to-air missiles.
These are basic requirements for a modern navy, and the NCSIST has successfully rolled out such equipment in the past few years. The main challenge is to integrate the above disparate systems. The destroyers and 2,000-3,000t frigates will be fitted with a Taiwanese Aegis-like combat direction system.
Taiwan’s underwater warfare capability depends on four ageing diesel-electric submarines. The US was expected to fulfil the Bush administration’s 2001 commitment to provide eight conventional attack submarines. Due to a lack of progress, the government committed to an Indigenous Defense Submarine programme to fill a need for 4-8 boats, though technological challenges remain considerable for Taiwan’s shipbuilding industry.
A 16,000t San Antonio-type LPD, possessing extensive C3I systems to support current and projected amphibious missions, would be a generational leap for the ROCN. It will replace a WWII LST fleet that forms the backbone of the ROCN amphibious fleet today.
Fast minelayers could conduct strategic mining missions around Taiwan. This simple but efficient vessel would increase the difficulty for China to blockade Taiwan or cross the intervening strait.
The Marine Corps should also receive additional AAV7 amphibious assault vehicles.
This shipbuilding programme represents something of a wish list for the ROCN, and it is unlikely to receive many of these items.
It is believed only three programmes have been funded so far: LPDs, corvettes and minelayers. Eleven additional corvettes will be acquired in three batches, with construction commencing next year. A contract for four minelayers was awarded in April.
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