News Story: Taiwan's new stealth corvette designed to blind Liaoning

The first of Taiwan's Tuo River-class stealth corvettes launched earlier this year was designed especially to counter the radar and command center of China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, Aleksey A Maslov, the director of the Centre for Chinese Studies at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia has told the website of RTR-Planeta based in Moscow.

Though known as carrier-killers, the Tuo River-class corvette was not developed to actually sink the Chinese carrier, Maslov said. However, this class of vessel has the capability to conduct electronic warfare against the carrier's radar and communication systems, hindering its ability to launch its fighters and helicopters.

The ROC Navy plans to build between eight and 12 Tuo River-class stealth corvettes in the near future.

Read the full story at Want China Times

News Story: Chinese Shipbuilder CSOC unveiled new Frigate, LHD and Submarine designs at IDEX 2013

Beijing based China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co. (CSOC) unveiled several new designs during IDEX 2013, the international defense exhibition held in the United Arab Emirates. Navyrecognition took the opportunity to get some details about these new designs during the event, including a new LHD design, the S20 submarine and a new stealth frigate design.

Read the full story at Navy Recognition

Editorial: China’s Navy Goes Stealth

By J. Michael Cole

In what it called a major step in the “systematic upgrade of its equipment and defense,” the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) on February 25th received the first of an expected 20 Type 056 Jiangdao class stealth corvettes, a new type of ship that experts say will play a major role in defending China’s territorial waters.

The Bengbu (hull 582) was delivered to the PLAN during a commissioning ceremony in Shanghai attended by China’s top brass, including PLAN commander Wu Shengli, who is also a member of the powerful Central Military Commission; Liu Yi, deputy commander of the PLAN, Li Andong; deputy director of the General Armaments Department; and Su Zhiqian, commander of the East China Sea Fleet.

The Type 056 program was first unveiled in 2010. Nine other Type 056 corvettes have been launched since the launch of the Bengbu lead ship in May 2012 and are now being outfitted with weapons and electronics systems. Although Chinese media reported that the new corvette would be put into service “in large quantities,” the PLAN appears to have plans to acquire a total of 20 for the time being. 

The Type 056 comes armed with a pair of two-cell YJ-83 anti-ship missile launchers, an eight-cell FL-3000N (HQ-10) surface-to-air missile system, a PJ-26 76 mm main gun and two 30 mm close-in weapons systems (CIWS), and two (presumably Yu-7 torpedo) tubes. Its flight deck can accommodate a Z-9 helicopter. 

Read the full story at The Diplomat

News Report: China unveils new stealth missile frigate

Type 056 Jiangdao class Frigate (Image: Chinhdangvu)

China releases details of a new stealth missile frigate. It’s part of a military modernization process amid ongoing tensions over Beijing's maritime claims in the region.

The first ship of the Type 056 Jiangdao class frigates was handed over to China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in Shanghai, home to one of the country's largest naval shipyards.

The stealth frigate Number 586 is a new design with sloped surfaces made as clean as possible, it also has  reduced superstructure clutter. It features advanced technologies that will make it harder to detect by radar, visual, sonar, and infrared methods, the Chinese navy said at their website.

China's brand new vessel is armed with a 76-mm main gun based on the Russian AK-176 and 30-mm remote weapon systems. The main anti-ship armament consists of YJ-83 sea-skimming anti-ship cruise missiles in two twin-cell launchers. The primary anti-aircraft armament is one FL-3000N short range missile system with eight rounds. The ship is fitted with a helicopter deck at the stern but has no organic helicopter support facilities.

At 1,440 tons fully loaded, this frigate cruises at an estimated 28 knots and has about a 2,000 nautical mile range.

News Story: State Media - Chinese Navy Gets New ‘Stealth Frigate’

Type 056 Jiangdao class Frigate (Image: Chinhdangvu)

BEIJING — China’s navy has taken delivery of a new type of stealth frigate that is expected to bolster the country’s maritime defenses amid territorial disputes, state media reported Tuesday.

The ship, identified by the official Xinhua news agency as a “Type 056 stealth frigate,” was delivered to the navy Monday afternoon in a ceremony in Shanghai.

Navy commander Wu Shengli emphasized the importance of mastering its equipment and capabilities amid ongoing maritime disputes, according to a front-page article Tuesday in the PLA Daily newspaper, published by the People’s Liberation Army. Wu, also a member of the Communist Party’s powerful Central Military Commission, called for continuous improvement and growth of an elite naval force capable of fighting and winning so as to reassure Chinese leader Xi Jinping and other members of the commission.

In January, state media reported that the armed forces were instructed to raise their fighting ability in 2013 and “focus closely on the objective of being able to fight and win battle.” President Hu Jintao, set to step down next month and be replaced by Xi, told a Communist Party congress last November that China should become a “maritime power.”

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Related Story: China unveils new stealth missile frigate

News Story: Taiwan Probes ‘Stealth’ Ship’s Missing Computer

Kuang Hua VI class (Wiki Info)

TAIPEI — Taiwan’s military said June 11 that it is looking into how a top-secret computer from a “stealth” warship went missing, amid concerns it might have fallen into Chinese hands.

The laptop, installed onboard a Kuang Hua No. 6-class guided-missile vessel, disappeared late last month while the vessel was anchored at the southern port of Tsoying, Taiwan’s largest naval base, the military said.

After an initial investigation, the navy was still unable to account for how the computer had gone missing.

“We admit that the navy exhibited some flaws in the control of personnel at the base,” a naval spokesman told AFP, adding that military prosecutors have taken over the investigation of the case.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Indian Frigate Sails for Sea Trials in Russia

Indian Frigate Sails for Sea Trials in Russia

16:22 24/05/2012 A Talwar class frigate being built for the Indian Navy at the Yantar Shipyard in Russia’s exclave of Kaliningrad departed on Thursday for sea trials, the shipyard said.> Read the full story HERE <

Other news of the day

News Story: Taiwan To Build ‘Stealth’ Warship Fleet

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan is to build 12 new “stealth” warships in reaction to China’s naval build-up, the island’s navy announced May 15.

Navy Capt. Chu Hsu-ming told reporters Lung Teh Shipbuilding Co, a private firm, has been awarded a Tw$890 million ($30.1 million) contract for the construction of the first 500-ton corvette with delivery slated for2014.

The prototype will be the first of 12 such twin-hulled boats, which the designer said are hard to detect on radar.

Read the full story at DefenseNews