The Republic of China Navy (RoCN) has announced that it recently completed trials and evaluations of the new medium-range Hai Chien II (‘Sea Sword II') air-defence missile that will arm the improved variant of Taiwan's Tuo Chiang (also spelled Tuo Jiang)-class fast missile corvettes
Developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), the ‘Sea Sword II' (also known as Tien Chien II N or ‘Sky Sword II N') is a ship-launched variant of the Tien Chien II air-to-air missile deployed with the F-CK-1 Ching Kuo multirole Indigenous Defence Fighter (IDF).
The ‘Sea Sword II' is also expected to replace the Sea Chaparral point defence systems on the RoCN's Kang Ding (La Fayette)-class frigates.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that the first improved Tuo Chiang-class corvette on order for the RoCN, TaChiang (pennant number 619), is expected to enter service in August after being launched on 15 December 2020 at the facilities of Taiwan's Lungteh Shipbuilding in Suao, southern Yilan County.
The first improved Tuo Chiang-class fast missile corvette on order for the RoCN, Ta Chiang (seen here during its launch ceremony in December 2020), is expected to be armed with the new 'Sea Sword II' air-defence missile. (Via Tsai Ing-wen's Twitter account)
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who presided over the launch ceremony, said at the time that Taipei aims to build a total of six of these improved ships by 2023, with up to five additional ones expected to be built thereafter.
Developed under the Hsun Hai programme, the Tuo Jiang-class vessels are designed to provide the RoCN with a high-end, asymmetric means to defeat amphibious landing and capital ships.
TaChiang
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