Taipei: The first of the remaining five Tuo Chiang-class stealth missile corvettes, being built domestically for the Navy, was officially launched in a ceremony presided over by Navy Commander Admiral Tang Hua on Wednesday. The event marked a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to bolster the naval capabilities of the country.

According to Focus Taiwan, the newly launched vessel, named Dan Chiang (PGG-627), entered the water for the first time during a ceremony that was closed to the press. The ship, christened during the event, derives its name from the Danda River in central Nantou County. It is slated for delivery to Taiwan’s Navy next year following further trials.

The Tuo Chiang-class is a domestically designed and manufactured class of fast and stealthy multipurpose corvettes. This class of corvettes was first exemplified by the prototype, Tuo Chiang (PGG-618), which was commissioned in 2015. The Navy has already received and commissioned the first batch of six corvettes from this class.

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Dan Chiang represents the first of the second batch of five corvettes, with the Navy expected to have a total of 11 Tuo Chiang-class corvettes by the end of 2026. These corvettes feature a wave-piercing catamaran design, measuring 60.4 meters in length and 14 meters in width. They boast a top speed of 30 knots (55.6kph) and a range of 1,800 nautical miles (3,334 km).

The corvette is equipped with subsonic Hsiung Feng II “Brave Wind II” missiles, supersonic Hsiung Feng III “Brave Wind III” anti-ship missiles, a 76mm cannon, and Hai Chien II “Sea Sword II” carrier-based medium-range air defense missiles. These features enable the vessel to target both air and sea threats simultaneously, enhancing the Navy’s operational capabilities.