The Navy of the Republic of China received the first corvette catamaran of the Tuo Jiang II project. A total of 11 such ships should be built.
Taiwan is seriously concerned about the growing power of the Chinese Navy. One of the efforts to neutralize the threat was the Tuo Jiang II missile corvette-catamaran project.
On September 9, the first of such ships, Tajiang, entered the Navy of the Republic of China. The ceremony was held at the Zhongzheng Naval Base. The president of the partially recognized state, Tsai Ing-wen, took part in it. At the same time, the base held a ceremony of commissioning the second minelayer of the Min Jiang project, which has an automated system for setting sea mines.
Tajiang
Image source: dambiev
In December 2018, Taiwanese media confirmed that Lung Teh Shipbuilding will build 11 corvettes of the improved Tuo Jiang II project, as well as four minelayers of the Min Jiang project.
Tajiang
Image source: dambiev
The new catamaran has upgraded Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles, which have a flight speed of about M=3 and a firing range of up to 150-180 kilometers. The displacement of the catamaran is 685 tons.
Tajiang
Image source: dambiev
In Taiwan, the new corvettes are called "aircraft carrier killers". This is an obvious reference to the program of construction of new aircraft carriers in China.
Beijing has recently shown significant progress in this direction. In the summer, it became known that the Chinese had installed a superstructure on the first "super-aircraft carrier" in its history, known as Type 003.
Type 003
Image source: navalnews
The Chinese navy already has two aircraft carriers at its disposal — the Shandong and the Liaoning. Being in a broad sense a development of the Soviet project 1143, they have significant limitations, including those related to the capabilities of the air group.
Type 003 will be the first Chinese aircraft carrier equipped with a launch catapult. This will allow it to launch more types of aircraft and with a larger payload. In general, the new aircraft carrier will be able to approach the American Nimitz-type ships in terms of combat potential.
Unable to build its own aircraft carriers, Russia is following the "Taiwanese" path, creating new ways to resist the alleged enemy-the US navy.
In August, we recall, it became known about the signing of the first contract for anti-ship hypersonic missiles "Zircon". Serial deliveries will begin next year. The missiles will be delivered to both surface ships and submarines of the Russian fleet.
