According to information published by Taiwan News on August 31, 2021, the Republic of China Navy will upgrade its six Kang Ding-class frigates to improve their air and missile defenses by installing a new missile system, the Sea Sword II.
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Sky Sword II and Sky Sword I missiles (Picture source: Flickr account of James Tung)
The Sky Sword II, or TC-2, is a medium-range, radar guided air-to-air missile. It has an inertial navigation system, a data-link for mid-course guidance and active radar homing for terminal guidance, beyond visual range.
The missile has all-weather capability, is equipped with a thrust-vectoring booster to increase its range as well as maneuverability during the launch phase (although early ship-based launch trials were carried out without this feature), and can engage anti-ship missiles and aircraft. It also has folding control surfaces to be quad-packed into either above-deck oblique launchers or in-deck vertical launch systems. It has an operational range of 100 km.
The Kang Ding class is a derivative of the French La Fayette class that is a class of general-purpose frigates built by DCNS and operated by the French Navy.
The La Fayette frigates are powered by four SEMT Pielstick 12 PA6 V 280 STC diesel engines, rated at 21,000hp. They can reach a maximum speed of 25 kt and, at an economical speed of 12 kt, the range is 9,000 nm. The crew consists of 141 people including 12 officers, 68 non-commissioned officers, and 61 sailors.
