The Republic of China Navy (ROCN) has formally commissioned the ROCS Dan Chiang (PGG-627), the lead vessel of the second production batch within the Taiwan-built Tuo Chiang-class catamaran-hulled corvette program, during a ceremony at Tsoying Naval Base on July 24. Presided over by President Lai Ching-te alongside Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo and Navy Commander Admiral Chiang Cheng-Kuo, the commissioning marks the delivery of the eighth ship overall in the planned 12-vessel program. Developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), the wave-piercing stealth combatants are optimized for hit-and-run operations within Taiwan’s heavily contested littoral approaches, with President Lai reaffirming that the remaining four vessels currently under construction are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026.
Measuring approximately 65 m in overall length, 14 m in beam, and displacing roughly 685 tonnes standard, the second-batch design features an improved hull profile and low-radar-cross-section (RCS) stealth engineering to enhance survivability near complex coastal backgrounds. Driven by four MTU 20V 4000 M93L diesel engines paired with MJP CSU 850 waterjets, the class achieves top speeds up to 45 kt and an operational range of 2,000 n mile while operating in conditions up to sea state 7. The multi-mission platforms carry an indigenous combat system and sensor suit, which includes the CS/MPQ-90 Sea Bee Eye Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) search radar alongside specialized electronic warfare countermeasures and variable-depth sonar capabilities on select variants.
Primary surface-to-surface armament on the second-batch configuration consists of indigenous Hsiung Feng II subsonic and Hsiung Feng III supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, paired with Sea Sword II (TC-2N) surface-to-air missiles for area defense against airborne threats. Point defense and close-range engagement are handled by a 76 mm Otobreda main gun, dual 12.7 mm M2HB heavy machine guns, and a Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), supported by an aft flight deck intended for vertical replenishment (VERTREP) operations. Crucially, Dan Chiang marks a fire-control transition for the class, replacing the STIR 1.2 EO Mk 2 system fitted on earlier units with the Leonardo NA-30S Mk 2 radar following export restrictions on French radar technology.
Operated by a standard complement of 41 personnel, the Tuo Chiang-class fulfills a dual-spectrum operational mandate ranging from peacetime patrol, transport escort, and offshore island protection to wartime joint counter-blockade, sea-control, and strike missions. In contested combat scenarios, the stealth corvettes are designed to operate independently or alongside larger naval task groups to command missile craft, deploy offensive or defensive naval mines, support special forces, and execute rapid counter-surface strikes before breaking contact. The delivery of Dan Chiang establishes the baseline for the remaining second-batch vessels built by Lungteh Shipbuilding, maintaining the Ministry of National Defense’s schedule to fully field the 12-ship fleet before 2027.
