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Kuang Hua VI Fast Attack Missile Craft

Taiwan's Kuang Hua VI [Glorious China] naval modernization program was first unveiled in 1996, but the program and design has since undergone changes. Initially it was projected to includes the future acquisition of 50 fast attack missile boats (150-250 ton) to replace the aging fleet of Hai Ou-class boats which have been in in service for more than 20 years. However, by 1998 it was envisioned that a total of 30 missile boats would be acquired, each of 150-tons, and capable of absorbing or deflecting radar. The project is part of the island's naval build-up beginning in the early 1990s, but long delayed by other higher-priority projects. Beginning in 1999 the navy gradually began to phase out its 50-ton missile boats. Although the Kuang Hua VI program for 30 missile boats was intended to replace the older Hai Ou class, by late 2000 only a single prototype had been authorized.

In December 2000 Taiwan's Navy announced plans to replace the Hsiung Feng-II with the Harpoon as the standard anti-ship missile on the Cheng Kung-class frigate. The decision grew from concerns for the higher cost-effectiveness of the new weapon system. Compared with the RGM -84L Harpoon missile, the Hsiung Feng-II was judged inferior in respect to range and maneuverability. The Hsiung Feng-II missiles on board the Cheng Kung-class frigates will be moved to the domestically-built Ching Chiang-class patrol boats, as well as the next-generation Kuang Hua VI missile boats in a pre-production. The Hsiung Feng-II missile had been chosen for the Cheng Kung-class frigate because the US was not willing to sell the Harpoons to Taiwan when the frigates were built.

In September 2003 the state-owned China Shipbuilding Corp. (CSBC) was soliciting the chance to build a new-generation fast attack boat -- the Kuang Hua No. 6 -- for the navy. The 154-ton Kuang Hua No. 6, designed by navy, was one of the focuses of the Han Kuang No. 19 exercise, the largest-ever wargame in recent years, held on 04 September 2003.

After completing the prototype, the Navy will find civilian shipbuilders to build the rest of the missile boats. The state-run China Shipbuilding Corporation and several major private shipbuilders plan to form a strategic alliance to bid for the contract to build 29 new missile boats. CSBC officials said that they are working with other ship builders to land the contract for the building project from the navy, which wants 29 more of the vessels. If the deal goes through, it will be worth around NT$10 billion (US$292.39 million) and will give a much-needed shot in the arm to the cash-strapped company.

The first in the class of Kwang Hua VI missile boats, FACG-60, was commissioned on Oct. 1, 2003. Funding for additional units has not been approved.

The navy hopes the new boats, together with four Kidd-class destroyers from the United States and the other vessels currently in service, including Chengkung-class frigates that are similar to the United States Perry-class ships, Kangting-class frigates (French-made Lafayette frigates) , Chiyang-class frigates (Knox-class ships) and 500-ton Chinchiang-class frigates designed by the navy, will form a formidable fleet.

The Kuang Hua No. 6 is expected to replace the older seagull-class missile fast boat, which has been in use for 20 years. The navy currently maintains nearly 50 seagull-class fast boats. It can only be armed with two Hsiungfeng I missiles, so the navy began to develop a new generation of fast attack boat three years ago. The Seagull-class fast boat is only 47 tons, which makes it difficult to operate efficiently in bad weather and hard to equip with instrumentation and newer weapons. The 154-ton Kuang Hua No. 6-class ship is equipped with four Hsiungfeng II missiles, as well as sophisticated monitoring, firing, radar and information systems. It can also evade radar detection because of its special design.

Sources and Methods

• NAVY TO ADD FAST ATTACK BOATS TO BEEF UP DEFENSE [CNA Taiwan] 27 March 2000 -- The navy has completed a blueprint for the building of the "Kuanghua 6." Bidding for the construction of the fast attack boats will begin next month.
• RADAR-EVADING MISSILE SPEED BOATS TO BE COMMISSIONED IN 2003 China News Agency [Taiwan] 08 September 1999 -- The navy is planning to build 30 missile speed boats that can evade detection by radar to beef up its defensive capability in the Taiwan Strait. The navy said the planned 150-ton speed boats are 40 meters long, seven meters wide, and have a maximum speed of 30 knots.