Taiwan Modernises its Navy with the First Sea Trials of the Kang Ding Class of Ships.

According to information published by the Liberty Times, on 30 July 2025, the Republic of China Navy (ROCN – or the Taiwanese Navy) initiated sea trials of the frigate ROCS Chengde (1208), marking the first full-scale modernisation of a Kang Ding-class vessel. Departing from the port of Kaohsiung, the Chengde is the first of Taiwan's six locally adapted La Fayette-class frigates to complete the integration of next-generation air defence and surveillance systems, including the British-made Type 997 Artisan radar and the domestically developed Huayang vertical launch system (VLS).
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Taiwanese Kang Ding class frigate Chen De. (Picture source: Taiwanese MoD)

The modernisation of ROCS Chengde started in late 2023, with installation milestones reached in the second quarter of 2025. The Type 997 Artisan radar, now clearly visible atop the main mast in trial imagery, replaces the ageing DRBV-26D "Jupiter II" system and introduces 3D electronically scanned array capabilities with enhanced rotation speed and air target tracking precision. Simultaneously, the obsolete Sea Chaparral missile launcher at the bow has been removed and replaced by a new hull-integrated VLS platform supporting up to 32 Sea Sword II (Hai Chien II) missiles. While portions of the VLS remain shrouded in protective covering, its placement and architecture confirm a dramatic upgrade in point air defence capacity, both in missile volume and engagement range, extending from 8 km to 32 km.

The sea trials now underway are the final step before the official recommissioning of the vessel. According to the ROCN's schedule, each of the remaining five Kang Ding-class frigates will undergo similar upgrades at a rate of one ship per year starting in 2026, ensuring a phased yet uninterrupted fleet enhancement cycle through 2031.

The Kang Ding class is based on the French La Fayette-class frigate. In  1991, Taiwan reached an agreement with France to supply six La Fayette-class frigates at a total cost of US$2.8 billion. These ships were acquired under contract with Thales (formerly Thomson CSF) in 1992 while the assembly of weapons took place in Taiwan, executed by the China SB Corporation at Kaohsiung. Due to restrictions on technology transfers, the original platforms were delivered without advanced European air defence systems, forcing Taiwan to retrofit them with US and local alternatives. This included the now-outdated Sea Chaparral missile system, which is no longer considered viable in the face of current aerial threats. The upgrade programme represents not only a leap in tactical resilience but also a response to increased PLA Navy activity around Taiwan's maritime zones.

The La Fayette-class frigate, designed and built by DCN (now Naval Group) in Lorient, France, is a 3,600-tonne stealth warship developed to meet the operational needs of post-Cold War naval forces, especially for missions in contested zones and overseas territories. Measuring 125 metres in length with a beam of 15.4 metres and a draught of 4.1 metres, the frigate can reach speeds of up to 25 knots and has an extended operational range of 9,000 nautical miles at 12 knots. It is powered by four SEMT Pielstick 12PA6V280 STC2 diesel engines delivering a combined 21,000 hp. Its stealth features, achieved through inclined surfaces, radar-absorbent composite materials, and internalised superstructure equipment, reduce its radar cross-section to that of a smaller vessel. The armament includes a 100 mm Mod.100TR gun, eight Exocet MM40 Block 2 anti-ship missiles, a Crotale CN2 SAM launcher, and various machine guns, with space for a Panther or NH90 helicopter supported by a flight deck and hangar.

The successful upgrade and reactivation of the ROCS Chengde symbolises a pivotal moment in Taiwan’s surface fleet modernisation. It enhances the Navy’s air defence envelope, strengthens its ability to defend against saturation missile attacks, and reinforces national defence posture amid rising regional tensions. The modernisation programme will also help narrow the growing technological gap with China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.