The navy is set to take delivery of its first locally designed stealth missile corvette from a Taiwanese shipbuilder during a ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, the Ministry of National Defense said.
During the ceremony in a commercial harbor in Suao Township (蘇澳), Yilan County, the 500-tonne corvette — the Tuo Jiang (沱江) — is to be officially transferred from Lung Teh Shipbuilding Co to the navy, the ministry said.
After receiving the corvette, the navy plans to begin training personnel to familiarize them with the craft, with navy officials saying that it would not take long before the vessel is put into service.
The corvette is to be based in Suao, the navy said.
Earlier this month, the navy released a video showing a trial run of the Tuo Jiang in the ocean, reporting that the results of the tests were satisfactory.
Navy officials praised the boat’s high performance and high mobility, adding that the corvette reached a maximum speed of more than 38 knots (70.4kph) during the trials.
The twin-hull, Hsun-hai class corvette will be equipped with several weapons, including locally developed Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles, the navy said.
Commissioned by the navy, Lung Teh Shipbuilding Co began construction of the Tuo Jiang in November 2012, and it was christened in March.
It has a range of 2,000 nautical miles (3,704km), measures 60.4m in length, 14m in width, and has a crew of 41.
The navy plans to commission eight to 12 of the corvettes, if sufficient funds can be raised, it said.
Officials said the ships would serve as a deterrent against intrusions into the nation’s waters.
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