TAIPEI - Taiwan continues to seek the acquisition of two Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates currently serving with the U.S. Navy, according to a Republic of China (RoC) Navy press release on May 20. The RoC Navy is seeking to augment its eight Cheng Kung class frigates (which are Perry class frigates built under U.S. license in Taiwan), while replacing its eight Chin-Yang (ex-Knox) class frigates. The ex-Knox class frigates were built in the 1960s, while the Cheng Kung class entered service between 1993 and 2003.
The U.S. Coast Guard currently operates eight Perry class ships that are slated for decommissioning this year. Taiwan will receive two, while the rest will go to various U.S. allies. Once in RoC Navy service, the two 4,100-ton Perry class ships will be assigned the anti-submarine role currently undertaken by the Chin-Yang (ex-Knox) vessels. Contrary to local Taiwanese press reports, the Navy command denied that the two ships will be outfitted with a "mini-Aegis" fire control system and vertical launch surface-to-air Standard I missile system.
An earlier announcement of the acquisition by Defense Minister Kao Hua-chu to Parliament on November 5, 2012, stated that acquisition of these two ships will cost Taiwan $240 million and delivery will be in 2015.
