Taiwan Navy beginning research into feasibility of fleet of ‘stealth mini-missile boats’ that could counter China’s growing naval threat
Taiwan News
Date: 2018/01/24
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — In a new effort to use asymmetric warfare to counter an
Mark VI patrol boat. (By Wikimedia Commons)
invasion by China, Taiwan is going ahead with research into the feasibility of building a large fleet of small warships armed to the teeth with missiles, reported CNA.
On Jan. 08, Chief of the General Staff Lee Hsi-ming (李喜明) confirmed that the Navy will begin research into the construction of 60 “Stealth Mini-Missile Assault Boats” weighing 45 tons each, with the goal of having the fleet completed within four years.
Navy officials said that the development of the vessels would be carried out by the National Chung-shan Institute of Science and Technology in coordination with domestic shipyards. If approved by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), the Navy will commission private contractors to build the warships over the course of four years, and would represent the first major defense contract signed since she took office in 2016. [FULL STORY]