TADTE 2025: Taiwan navy hopes to receive first new light frigates by 2027–28

The ASW variant of Taiwan's light frigate includes modifications to the hull to accommodate flanking torpedo launch tubes. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal)

Taiwan's new light frigate programme has been delayed by two years, although the Republic of China Navy (RoCN) hopes to receive the first vessels by 2027–28.

The vessels are being developed to augment the RoCN's maritime surveillance, reconnaissance, and attack capabilities. The first two prototypes were to be delivered to the navy in late 2026, but it could now take two to three years to receive them, an RoCN source told Janes during the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE) 2025 held in Taiwan from 18 to 20 September.

While Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) has not commented on why the programme is being prolonged, Janes understands that the extended timeframe could be due to delays in the acquisition of equipment for the vessels.

Two variants of the light frigate are being built: an air-defence (AD) variant and an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variant. “The programme covers the construction of 12 vessels, six each of the AD and ASW variants,” the RoCN source told Janes .

The two variants have minor design differences to accommodate the two different roles. According to the source, the vessels in the class are about 116 m long, 15 m wide, and have a draught of 4.3 m.

The ships are being designed to achieve a speed of 30 kt and a range of 2,200 n miles. The vessels will have a displacement of 2,500 tonnes and a full load displacement of 3,300 tonnes, the source said.