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Taipei, Dec. 4 (CNA) The Republic of China Navy recently decided to build the eighth locally constructed Chengkung-class missile frigate to beef up its naval defense capability.

The ROC Navy recently struck an agreement with state-run China Shipbuilding Corp. (CSBC) on the construction of the new frigate to be christened "Tien-dan," CSBC sources said Monday.

The navy began the "Kuang Hua No. 1 Project" in 1989, contracting the CSBC to build eight missile frigates modeled on the U.S. Perry-class warships. So far, the navy has taken delivery of seven of the frigates over the last 10 years.

Construction of the eighth, which was originally scheduled to be completed in December 1999, was suspended due to an insufficient budget.

In the face of mainland China's mounting military threat, naval authorities finally decided to revive the shipbuilding project.

CSBC officials said the construction cost for the "Tien-dan" must be re-evaluated because all stock building materials have been used up. Each of the seven Chengkung-class missile frigates, excluding installed weapon systems, costs about NT$7 billion (US$212 million).

With construction of the "Tien-dan" scheduled to kick off early next year, the eighth Chengkung-class frigate is expected to be delivered to the navy in March 2004, CSBC officials said.

They noted that all of the Tien-dan's specifications will be the same as those of the seven other Chengkung-class frigates now in service in the navy.

Naval authorities originally planned to install Aegis-class strategic weaponry systems on the Tien-dan frigate. However, they later scrapped the plan in consideration of the frigate's inadequate space, the navy's limited budget, and the possible difficulties in acquiring the new weaponry systems.

With a displacement of 4,200 tons, each Perry-class frigate is equipped with advanced radar, artillery, torpedoes, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, locally-developed anti-ship "Hsiungfeng II" missiles, as well as anti-submarine helicopters.

As part of its efforts to modernize its naval fleet and upgrade its defense capabilities, the ROC has gradually retired aging destroyers and replaced them with a second-generation of warships.

In addition to the Perry-class frigates, six Lafayette-class frigates have been purchased from France and six Knot-class frigates have been leased from the United States to form the backbone of the ROC's naval fleet. (By Deborah Kuo)