PFG 1202 Kang Ding [La Fayette, Kuang Hua II] -- Does the VLS on this ship exist?

[KC45jp]

DB Selector

DB3K

Affected DBID(s)

Surface 3346, 4149

Summary of Changes

Mk41 VLS The upgraded version of this ship has Mk41 VLS. I could not find any news that it equipped with VLS but has plan to add. The news on 2019 clearly states this ship has old sea Chaparral as ID 533 indicates. I suggest Surface 3346, 4149 can have the hypothetical tag.

DAGAIE Mk2 I cannot find any sources suggesting it has this but have plan. Perhaps it does not have it.

Sources

https://www.setn.com/News.aspx?NewsID=562635

[tbrandon517]

Photos or current modernization state for sensor/weapons upgrades including VLS.

https://x.com/lhsingapura/status/1738435442046071207

[KLABDB3K]

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/12/taiwan-selects-first-kang-ding-class-frigate-for-upgrade/

This is old but it isn't referencing any Mk41, seems more like a ROC bespoke variant of the Sylver VLS capable of using Taiwanese TC SAM? Would make more sense from the integration of that on other countries La Fayettes? Request for TC SAM VLS made already and implemented DB498?

[tbrandon517]

This one from earlier this year references the Hua Yang VLS system.

https://armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2024/taiwan-navy-frigate-chen-de-to-be-armed-with-hua-yang-vls

[tbrandon517]

These indicate Mk41 was bought either for testing or because of exhaust venting problems with Hua Yang that have since been resolved possibly due to studying how mk41 handled exhausts.

https://alert5.com/2021/04/15/taiwan-achieves-major-breakthrough-in-vls-technology/

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/4979753

https://www.navyleaders.com/news/taiwan-begin-installing-domestic-vertical-missile-launch-system-navy-ships

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/12/taiwan-selects-first-kang-ding-class-frigate-for-upgrade/

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/02/taiwan-to-upgrade-kang-ding-class-frigates-with-french-assistance/