Taiwan Navy to Commission Two New Stealth Missile Corvettes in May 2023

Taiwan's Navy is set to commission two additional domestically-built Tou Jiang-class stealth missile corvettes, the Hsu Jiang (PGG-621) and the Wu Jiang (PGG-623), in an early May 2023 ceremony. The two corvettes, launched in February and June 2023 respectively, will bring the total number of Tou Jiang-class corvettes in the Navy's fleet to four out of a planned 11 by 2026. "These two corvettes are the third and fourth mass-produced Tou Jiang-class vessels," according to Navy officials.

The Tou Jiang-class corvette is a fast and stealthy multi-purpose vessel designed and manufactured domestically by Taiwan. Characterized by their wave-piercing catamaran design, the corvettes are capable of reaching speeds exceeding 30 knots with a range of 1,800 nautical miles. The 60.4-meter long, 14-meter wide vessels are armed with a variety of weapons, including subsonic Hsiung Feng-II (HF-2) missiles, supersonic Hsiung Feng-III (HF-3) anti-ship missiles, a 76mm cannon, and Sea Sword II carrier-based medium-range air defense missiles, allowing them to engage both air and sea targets simultaneously.

Why this matters: This move by Taiwan's Navy is seen as a response to escalating tensions with China, as the island nation continues to fortify its maritime defenses amidst growing concerns over China's military assertiveness in the region. The commissioning of the new corvettes demonstrates Taiwan's commitment to bolstering its naval capabilities and maintaining a strong deterrent against potential threats.

The commissioning of the Hsu Jiang and Wu Jiang comes amid increased Chinese military activity around Taiwan. The Ministry of National Defence detected 10 Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels around the nation in a 24-hour period on April 21-22, 2023, with eight of the aircraft crossing the Taiwan Strait median line. "The Navy plans to build a total of 11 Tou Jiang-class corvettes by the end of 2026," a Navy spokesperson stated, underscoring Taiwan's determination to strengthen its naval forces in the face of rising regional tensions.

Key Takeaways

• Taiwan's Navy to commission 2 more Tou Jiang-class stealth missile corvettes in May 2023.
• The new corvettes will bring the total number of Tou Jiang-class vessels to 4 out of a planned 11 by 2026.
• The corvettes are capable of reaching speeds over 30 knots and are armed with various missiles and a 76mm cannon.
• The commissioning is seen as a response to escalating tensions with China and a move to bolster Taiwan's naval capabilities.
• The Navy plans to build a total of 11 Tou Jiang-class corvettes by the end of 2026 to strengthen its naval forces.