First Flight II Corvette ROCS Tan Chiang Starts Sea Trials to Highlight Taiwan’s Growing Naval Capabilities.

According to information published on September 4, 2025, by Taiwan Defense News Tracker on X, the ROCS Tan Chiang (PGG-627), the lead ship of the Flight II Tuo Chiang-class corvettes, has conducted its first sea trial. The report highlights that, like all Flight II vessels, the Tan Chiang is equipped with the Leonardo NA-30S Mk2 fire-control radar. This development marks both a technical milestone and a further step in Taiwan’s ongoing effort to expand its fleet of fast, heavily armed, and locally built surface combatants. While the Tan Chiang advances toward operational deployment, additional vessels are already under construction to reinforce the Republic of China Navy’s capabilities.
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The Tuo Chiang-class was designed within the framework of Taiwan’s asymmetric defense strategy, aimed at countering numerically superior adversaries through speed, maneuverability, and concentrated firepower (Picture source: X Channel @TaiwansDefense)

The Tuo Chiang-class was designed within the framework of Taiwan’s asymmetric defense strategy, aimed at countering numerically superior adversaries through speed, maneuverability, and concentrated firepower. The program began with a prototype, which demonstrated the feasibility of integrating anti-ship missile systems into a compact stealthy hull, followed by six ships in the first production batch, now in service. These vessels form a core element of Taiwan’s littoral defense approach, providing flexible strike options and complicating the operational planning of any potential opponent. In September 2024, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense announced that a second batch of five additional corvettes had entered production, with completion scheduled for 2026. Once delivered, the total number of Tuo Chiang-class ships will rise to twelve, significantly strengthening the surface fleet alongside the twelve Anping-class patrol frigates operated by the Coast Guard.

The Tan Chiang, as the first Flight II unit, introduces several improvements over earlier ships. The Leonardo NA-30S Mk2 fire-control radar is the most prominent of these, enhancing the ability to track and engage multiple aerial and surface targets. This radar forms part of a broader modernization effort, equipping all Flight II ships with more advanced sensors and increasing overall combat efficiency. In addition to these upgrades, the class incorporates a set of technical features designed to optimize performance. The corvette has a full load displacement of around 685 tons, an overall length of 65 meters, a beam of 14.8 meters, and a draft of approximately 2.1 meters. Propelled to a top speed of 30 knots, the vessel has an operational endurance exceeding 1,800 nautical miles, allowing it to conduct extended patrols and rapid strike missions in contested waters.

Armament on board reflects the dual role of the class as both a strike platform and an air defense node. The main gun is a 76 mm rapid-fire naval gun, complemented by a secondary close-in weapon system and T-74 machine guns for point defense. Missile systems remain central to the ship’s firepower, with Sea Sword II surface-to-air missiles providing layered air defense and a mix of Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles ensuring strong offensive capability. Supporting these weapons, the vessel is equipped with a modern electronic warfare suite that includes early warning sensors, radar countermeasures, and decoy launchers. Surveillance is reinforced by a 3D air search radar, a planar array radar, and the NA-30S Mk2 fire-control radar, ensuring full integration of detection and engagement functions.

The sea trials of the Tan Chiang represent a critical stage in evaluating propulsion, maneuverability, and combat system integration. These trials provide both shipbuilders and the navy with an opportunity to validate performance and make necessary refinements before commissioning. For Taiwan, the successful testing of its first Flight II corvette is more than a technical achievement; it is also a statement of the growing capability of the domestic defense industry to deliver complex platforms while adapting to a dynamic security environment. The simultaneous continuation of production ensures that momentum in the program is sustained and that the navy will soon benefit from an expanded fleet.

By beginning its sea trials, the ROCS Tan Chiang embodies the next step in Taiwan’s indigenous naval program. As the first Flight II ship, it demonstrates the evolution of the Tuo Chiang design, while the second batch now under construction will ensure the class becomes a central pillar of Taiwan’s maritime defense posture. Together, these developments reflect a deliberate strategy to enhance survivability and combat effectiveness in the increasingly contested waters of East Asia.