Kang Ding-class frigate

As the ROC (Taiwan)'s defensive stance is aimed towards the Taiwan Strait, the ROC Navy is constantly seeking to upgrade its anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The US$1.75 billion agreement with France in the early 1990s was an example of this procurement strategy:^[1] the six ships are configured for both anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and surface attack. The Exocet anti-ship missile was replaced by Taiwan-developed Hsiung Feng II missile and the anti-air warfare (AAW) weapon is the Sea Chaparral. The main gun is an Oto Melara 76 mm/62 Mk 75 gun, similar to its Singaporean counterparts, the Formidable-class frigates. Some problems in the integration of Taiwanese and French systems had been reported. The frigate carries a single Sikorsky S-70C(M)-1/2 ASW helicopter.^{[citation needed]}

The Sea Chaparral SAM system is considered inadequate for defense against aircraft and anti-ship missiles, so the ROCN plans to upgrade its air-defense capabilities with the indigenous TC-2N in 2020.^[2] The missiles will be quad-packed in a vertical launch system for future ROCN surface combatants,^[3] but a less-risky alternative arrangement of above-deck, fixed oblique launchers is seen as more likely for upgrading these French-built frigates.^{[citation needed]}

In 2021, it was reported that Taiwan would upgrade the frigates of this class with new air defence and combat systems.^[4] The upgrades were to begin in 2022 and would follow on the modernization of the ships' decoy launching systems under a contract awarded in 2020.^[5] In January 2025, it was reported that the first upgraded frigate would be due September 2025.^[6]

The class's maximum speed is 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) with a maximum range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km; 4,600 mi).^{[citation needed]}

The class's Mk 75 main guns have been upgraded and have an improved firing rate of 100 rounds a minute.^[7]

ROC Navy has allocated NT$43.16 billion for the upgrade of its six Kang Ding-class frigates between FY 2021 and 2029. The modernization program focuses on improving radar and SAM systems to enhance anti-air warfare (AAW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and sea control capabilities.

The Kang Ding-class frigate upgrade includes a new Battle Management System (BMS) with improved radars, enhanced air defense, and a vertical launch system (VLS) for missiles. The goal is to increase the frigates' overall combat capability and defensive power.

As part of the upgrade, the Triton-G radar has been replaced with BAE Type 997 Artisan radar. In addition, the Hua Yang vertical launch system (華陽垂直發射系統), developed by Taiwan's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), will be installed in the “B” turret position, replacing the RIM-72C Sea Chaparral. The Hua Yang VLS is reportedly capable of launching up to 32 TC-2N missile surface-to-air missiles with a range of 30 km (19 mi).

On July 28, 2025, Taiwan's first upgraded La Fayette-class frigate was spotted departing Kaohsiung port for sea trials. Local ship spotters in Kaohsiung posted photos of Chen De (承德, PFG-1208) leaving port with the assistance of a service vessel. The departure was also captured by the live webcam of Hongmaogang Cultural Park (紅毛港文化園區) at around 10:00 a.m.^[8]

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  ROCN Kang Ding-class Frigate Combat System Performance Upgrade Project, Photos showing that the upgrade project for the Cheng-de frigate (承德,PFG-1208) was half completed in January 2025.
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  The Poseidon Triton-G radar on the Cheng-de frigate (承德,PFG-1208) has been removed and is being prepared to be replaced with the Type 997 Artisan radar coordinate search radar in January 2025.