수상전투함 대만 신형 경프리깃 건조 예정

[위종민]

현재 대만해군은 페리급 10척, 캉딩급 6척, 녹스급 6척 등 22척의 프리깃을 운용중인데, 2016년 이 배들을 4,500톤급 유도미사일 프리깃을 개발해 대체하려고 했지만 2021년 이를 취소하고 2,500톤급 경프리깃 건조에 우선적으로 예산을 지원했다고 합니다. 

이 22척의 프리깃은 1급 함정으로 분류돼 일선에서 전투를 벌이는 것이 목표인데, 경프리깃은 2급 함정으로 분류되며 1급 함정들이 수행했던 일상적 초계임무를 대체하고 3급함정인 소형 초계함과 고속정 사이의 갭을 메울 예정이라고 합니다. 대만 해군은 6월에 건조를 시작해 2026년 10월까지 인수받을 수 있을 것으로 에상한다고 하네요. 

대잠전/대공전형으로 나눠서 건조한다고 하며 건조수량은 12척입니다. 

함포는 오토멜라라 76mm 스트랄레스, CIWS는 팰렁스가 설치될 예정이며 현재 개발중인 대만형 RAM인 Sea Oryx가 개발 완료되면 추가로 통합될 수 있습니다. 레이더는 대공, 대잠형 모두 영국제 ARTISAN이 설치되며, 대공형에는 VLS 32셀이, 대잠전형에는 VLS 16셀이 설치되며, 대신 대함미사일은 대공형이 8발, 대잠형이 16발을 장비합니다. 헐마운티드 소나는 빼버리고, 대잠형에만 VDS 견인소나와 Mk.32 발사관이 장착됩니다. 

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/05/taiwan-to-begin-light-frigate-construction-in-june/

A relatively early internal Light Frigate concept design by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology, unveiled in the 2018 Kaohsiung International Maritime & Defence Expo.

Taiwan To Begin Light Frigate Construction In JuneTaiwan is set to start construction of two 2,500-ton Light Frigates in June following a contract awarded to a local shipbuilder this month.

Curtis Lee  22 May 2023

The new frigates would supplement the larger existing frigates and destroyers, relieving their operational stress.

According to multiple Taiwanese media outlets, the Republic of China (ROC) Navy signed a contract with Jong Shyn Shipbuilding Group to build their first two next generation domestic Light Frigates on May 12th and is expected to begin construction as soon as June, paving the road to introduce 12 frigates for the Taiwanese Navy.

Currently, the ROC Navy operates 22 Frigates, including 10 Cheng Keung-class Frigates (8 license-produced US Perry class plus 2 second-hand ships from the US Navy), 6 Kang Ding-class Frigates (Modified French La Fayette-class built by the then-DCNS, now Naval Group)  and 6 Chun Yang-class Frigates (Second-hand US Knox-class). Back in 2016, the Taiwanese Navy had a plan to replace these 3 classes of Frigates with a single new class of 4,500-ton Guided Missile Frigates. The new class aimed at becoming the backbone of the ROC Navy, featuring 3D Phased Array Radar and Vertical Launch System; however, this plan was suspended in 2021 and the resources were prioritized to a new 2,500-ton Light Frigate program.

The current 22 Frigates of Taiwan are classified as “First class ships”, with displacements ranging from around 3,600-ton to 4,200-ton and their role is to fight the high-end battles. The new 2,500-ton Light Frigates are classified as “Second class ships”, acting as the workhorses of the Taiwanese Navy, taking over the day-to-day patrol missions currently performed by the “First class ships” and filling the existing gap between the “First class ships” and “Third class ships”, which are the smaller Corvettes and Missile Boats. In order to reduce the cost, the ROC Navy decided to take a role-oriented approach by splitting the Light Frigate into two versions, the AAW version and ASW version. That is because integrating all these mission systems and equipment together would definitely increase the displacement of the ship which would ultimately increase the overall cost of the program.

Light Frigate, the workhorse of the Navy

Both versions are around 101 meters in length, 12.3 meters to 12.6 meters in width and 3.75 meters to 3.9 meters in draft. According to local reports, the Taiwanese Navy selected Lockheed Martin Canada‘s CMS-330 as the Combat Management System for the Light Frigate, the same system found on the current Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship as well as the future Canadian Surface Combatant and Joint Support Ship of the Royal Canadian Navy. In addition, they are also in the process of introducing OTO Melera’s 76mm STRALES and DART (Driven Ammunition Reduced Time of flight) in the future, which should be part of the Light Frigate program.

When integrated with the DART guided rounds, Leonardo’s 76mm STRALES Naval Gun increases the probability of kill against Anti-Ship Missiles. Leonardo photo.

Just like every other surface combatants in the Taiwanese Navy, the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System would be the last line of defense against Anti-Ship Missiles; however, the Sea Oryx Missile System (A Taiwanese domestic equivalent to the US Rolling Airframe Missile System) would also be integrated in the future once the whole Operational Test & Eval‎uation (OT&E) phase is completed and ready for series production.

A Sea Oryx launcher with 24 cells. NCSIST photo.

As for the medium range air surveillance radar for the Light Frigate, BAE Systems‘ ARTISAN (Advanced Radar Target Indication Situational Awareness and Navigation) was selected as the primary radar system. Designated as Type 997 in the British Royal Navy, the ARTISAN is a proved and reliable 3D S Band Radar system with Digital Beam Forming capability rotating at 30 RPM, allowing the Light Frigate to maintain an excellent air surveillance capability and situational awareness.

With a detection range up to 200km, featuring back-to-back arrays, the ARTISAN is a medium range air surveillance radar with excellent situational awareness capability. BAE Systems photo.

TC-2N, a ship-launched version of the domestic Sky Sword II Medium Range, Active Radar Homing Air to Air Missile is the primary AAW weapon for both versions of the Light Frigate. One notable feature of the AAW version is the integration of a domestic VLS with 32 cells for the TC-2N, which is the first class of Taiwanese ship to integrate such system. On the other hand, the ASW version would install two side launchers with 8 cells, which only has about half the missiles compared to the AAW version. 

TC-2N launch in a VLS configuration. NCSIST photo.

In order to perform Local Sea Control mission, both versions are armed with HF-2 Subsonic Anti-Ship Missiles and HF-3 Supersonic Anti-Ship Missiles. The AAW version can only carry 8 Anti-Ship Missiles while the ASW version can carry up to 16 missiles, depending on the type of missiles. All domestic missiles would be controlled by a domestic combat system, linked to the onboard CMS-330. Due to the relatively light tonnage of the Light Frigate, the thought of installing a hull-mounted sonar on the ship was abandoned from the start of the program. Only the ASW version is equipped with a towed Variable Depth Sonar, presumably the CAPTAS series VDS. 2 sets of Mk32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes are also an exclusive feature for the ASW version.

The first batch of 2 Light Frigates, consisting of one AAW and ASW version each, would start the construction as soon as the power plant selection (Rolls Royce MT30 and General Electric LM2500 Gas Turbines are the possible candidates) and other detailed designs are completed. Despite the rushed schedule, the Taiwanese Navy is quite optimistic that both ships should be able to begin construction in June and on track to be delivered in October, 2026.

TAGS Frigate Taiwan

[Minowski(김유철)]

결국 평시에 각종 잡무를 수행할 사역마인데 대만의 상황때문에 무장능력을 극한까지 올린 개념이겠네요. 가뜩이나 노인들 학대하는데 그거라도 덜어주는.........

[위종민]

2500톤급에 굉장히 중무장이긴 합니다.

보니까 저 22척을 대체할 프리깃 건조를 취소하고 이걸로 대체하는 것 같은데 3천톤~4천톤급은 죄다 없애버리고 이 배로 수상전투함 전력을 채울 것 같기도 합니다. 중장기 과제로 키드급 대체할 이지스구축함을 도입 추진하려나요. ( https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2022/10/13/2003786946 )

[백선호]

이런 연구를 해서 2,500톤으로 많이 만드는 것이 맞다는 결론을 내린 것이 아닐까 싶네요.

http://cafe.daum.net/NTDS/51Tv/1122

[백선호]

취소된 4,500톤짜리 배가 여기 이 배일까요?

https://cafe.daum.net/NTDS/51Tv/1032

[위종민]

네 이 배인 것 같습니다. 4,500톤급에 4면 고정형 AESA 레이더 장착형이라고 했으니.. 아래 기사를 보면 국산화를 실패한 것 같네요. ( https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/04/taiwans-new-domestic-frigate-project-hits-roadblock/ )

"However, several Taiwanese media are reporting that the frigate project is not going smoothly because NCSIST (National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology – a Taiwanese state-owned corporation) has not been able to develop a compact AESA radar system for the ship, "