Taiwan has launched its new self-designed corvette with stealth features, marking a key step forward in the country’s naval development.
The “Danjiang” corvette, the first in a new series of five upgraded stealth vessels, is scheduled to enter service with Taiwan’s navy next year following further testing, according to Azernews.
Measuring 60.4 meters (198 feet) long and 14 meters (46 feet) wide, the Danjiang uses a catamaran hull to improve stability and maneuverability.
It can reach speeds of 30 knots (55 kilometers/h or 34.5 miles per hour) and has a range of over 1,800 nautical miles (2,071 miles/3,334 kilometers).
The ship features various anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles, along with an automatic cannon, allowing it to engage both air and sea targets simultaneously.
Boosting Defense
The Danjiang is part of Taipei’s push to modernize its navy and reinforce its defense posture amid growing regional tensions, particularly in response to China, which claims the island as its territory and has threatened to use force to take control.
Earlier this month, Taiwan announced its annual “Han Kuang” military exercises, scheduled from July 9 to 18, with newly-acquired US-made rocket systems playing a central role in simulations of a potential Chinese attack.
The drills involve active-duty troops and the largest mobilization of reservists to date, with 22,000 participants in what will be the longest edition since the exercises began in 1984, when the island was still under martial law.
In June, Taiwan began sea trials of its first domestically-built submarine in the southern port of Kaohsiung.
The vessel is part of a program launched in 2016 to build a fleet of eight submarines, with sea trials beginning nearly two years after it was first unveiled.
