After facing delays and difficulties with the arrival of foreign-made equipment, Taiwan has reported significant progress in the modernization program of its Kang Ding-class frigates. Looking ahead, the delivery of the first completed ship (the Cheng De) is expected in September of this year. These ships have been in service for over 25 years in the Taiwanese Navy, prompting the government of the island nation to invest approximately 43.1 billion Taiwan dollars in their modernization, which is overseen by the Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST).

It is worth noting that the Kang Ding frigates are based on the design of the French Navy’s La Fayette-class frigates, notable for their stealth features (which were pioneering when they were incorporated) and their anti-surface and anti-submarine combat capabilities. However, when acquired, Taiwan was unable to secure all the weapon systems that were supposed to equip the original model, leading to reliance on alternative equipment from the United States and local sources.
In this context, the Taiwanese Kang Ding frigates have operated so far with limited anti-aircraft combat capabilities, relying solely on four Sea Chaparral missiles, deployed from the ship’s bow with an 8-kilometer range—considered insufficient for current times. The main goal of Taiwan’s modernization program, therefore, is to enhance these capabilities, which will be achieved by installing the “Hua Yang” Vertical Launch System (VLS), increasing the anti-air defense range to about 32 kilometers and the number of missiles from 4 to 32 of the Sea Sword II variant.

Other aspects of the modernization program include upgrades to the frigates’ radars. Previously, they were equipped with the DRBV-26D “Jupiter II” systems, operating at a rotational speed of 15 rpm. Once the work is completed, the modernized Taiwanese ships will be equipped with the ARTISAN 3D radar arrays (model 997), capable of working at double the rotational speed and already part of the equipment on the UK’s Type 23 and 26 frigates.
Finally, in terms of the administrative details of the modernization program, the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense plans not only to deliver the first modernized vessel this year but also to maintain a delivery rate of one ship per year from 2026 to 2030. However, some concerns have emerged among local analysts, as the Taiwan Parliament reported in last year’s budget review that only the equipment necessary for the modernization of three out of five frigates has been received so far.
Images used for illustrative purposes
You may also like: The United States is expected to deliver the first NASAMS air defense system to the Armed Forces of Taiwan by late 2025