Taiwan Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
- Thread starter Gollevainen
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It is still potent, especially if they got the Ageis version. And they are not that high profile, China would most probably not protest as much as if the RoC buy better ships.
It is not always the best hardware or equipment with the best price that win a sales... most of the time... it was international politics that is playing the most significant roles in determining a sales.
I agree, if they come with AEGIS then its worth it. If not then its a total waste of money. The situation was that 9 years ago China was worried about AEGIS now they are worried about F-16s, I think AEGIS has a better chance to be sold than the F-16s given thats its "defensive". While everyone is saying that Taiwan will get arms sales in 2010, I'm worried that it may be the ONLY year under the Obama administration to get arms sales. Last year was just "empty".... and the French won't sell arms unless Taiwan drops the Lafayette case....
There are no roads...and yet the government wastes time trying to find roads. There are lobbyists for the US defence industry....why aren't there any for the Taiwan defence industry? I am beginning to think that the government forgets their existence
I admired and respect your passion for Taiwan's defence industry and sector. However as I have mentioned before, sometime a sales made to a particular hardware or equipment does not just rely on the hardware or equipments usefulness to the industry.
This was more so in the case of defence matters. Sales is not always done on whether what was the best for their given roles but what was best politically.
In the case for Taiwan and China, this is most delicate, thus sometime we will get to see absolutely outrageous type of sales that had gone through and wonder till our head crack at the decision... but many tends to forget the one big factor that govern such as a sales - POLITICS. Not just Taiwan's but the other country selling the arms to Taiwan.
In this case, we are actually seeing US selling old frigates to Taiwan... might be upgraded to AEGIS just to give these frigates some teeth. This is a way to show mainland china that US is still there... but also to calm Beijing in stating that the frigates we sell are not good enough to pose as much threat to you... so don't burst a blood vein.
Actually, if they do an upgrade on them along the lines of the excellent upgrade that Australia is implementing on their Perrys, then they would be very good combatants.
They have always been excellent at ASW, and the Australians are extending their life and actually increaing their other capabilities well beyond what the original US capability had been. IMHO, the US should do for the 30 it still has.
All new electronics systems will be added to allow the weapons upgrades and additions. The ships’ existing Mk13 GMLS pop-up launcher will retain its 40 round magazine, but will be fitted for more advanced SM-2 anti-air missiles and Harpoon strike missiles (usually fitted 32 SM-2 and 8 Harpoon). An 8-cell Mk41 vertical launching system will provide for either another 8 SM-2 Standards, or up to 32 shorter-range RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow air defense missiles.
With 32 SM-2s and the 32 ESSMs, that will provide excellent AAW defense with 64 missiles in a layered defense.
Self-contained drop-in weapon changes will round out the Australian mix. The ship’s 20mm Phalanx CIWS last-ditch defense systems will be upgraded to Block 1B for better capabilities against UAVs, helicopters, and small boats; the MU90 Eurotorp lightweight torpedo will be ready in the torpedo tubes; the Harpoon anti-ship missiles will be RGM-84 Block IIs with GPS guidance and land attack capability; and RAFAEL’s Mini-Typhoon 12.7mm remote weapons systems will supplement the Phalanx’s defenses against fast boats and similar threats.
So, if Taiwan were to similarly upgrade their Perry's, they would not onl prolong their life, they would substantially increase their capability.
Hi Jeff,
IMO it's not a good deal to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade 25-30 year old ships. By the time that the upgrade is complete and ships delivered, I'd seriously question the cost effectiveness and remaining lifespan of the ship. RAN's HMAS Sydney, for example, is scheduled to be retired in 2013.
If ROCN wants OH Perry class ships, Taiwan's own shipyards can build new ones, as they've done so before. If you're going to spend that much money on sensor and weapon upgrades, you mind as well put them on a new ship with 30+ year lifespan.
There's also the possibility that ROCN may purchase the ships from US with minimal upgrades, which would make this conversation irrelevant.
IMO it's not a good deal to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade 25-30 year old ships. By the time that the upgrade is complete and ships delivered, I'd seriously question the cost effectiveness and remaining lifespan of the ship. RAN's HMAS Sydney, for example, is scheduled to be retired in 2013.
If ROCN wants OH Perry class ships, Taiwan's own shipyards can build new ones, as they've done so before. If you're going to spend that much money on sensor and weapon upgrades, you mind as well put them on a new ship with 30+ year lifespan.
There's also the possibility that ROCN may purchase the ships from US with minimal upgrades, which would make this conversation irrelevant.
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Pointblank
Senior Member
The Taiwanese tend to keep their ships for a long time; it was only until very recently did the Taiwanese retire their modernized Gearing class destroyers, which date back to World War II.
CSBC is fully capable of building brand new OH Perry class ships. Why buy 25-30 year old OH Perry's and run a floating museum navy?
If ROCN is serious about modernization, they need to move forward to the VLS era. European shipbuilders have already proven the smaller Aegis ADS concept. IMO money is a secondary concern, Taiwan's biggest problem is the lack of political will and confidence in local industry. They simply don't love "Made in Taiwan/ROC".
If ROCN is serious about modernization, they need to move forward to the VLS era. European shipbuilders have already proven the smaller Aegis ADS concept. IMO money is a secondary concern, Taiwan's biggest problem is the lack of political will and confidence in local industry. They simply don't love "Made in Taiwan/ROC".