Republic of China Navy - Equipment

Equipment

Traditionally, most ROCN equipment is purchased from the United States, though several ships have been built domestically under licence or through domestic development. The ROCN has also purchased Lafayette class frigates from France and Zwaardvis class submarines from the Netherlands as well as well as four U.S. Kidd class (renamed Keelung) destroyers originally intended for Iran.

Despite the ROCN refurbishing and extending the service life of its vessels and equipment, it has suffered from procurement difficulties due to pressures exerted by the PRC. It has only two useful submarines. The U.S. has approved sales of eight new diesel powered submarines but lacks the manufacturing capability to make the engines; at the same time, threats from the PRC prevent the necessary technology transfer from other countries. Furthermore, the Legislative Yuan did not approve the budget and thereby slowed the opportunity to procure the badly needed underwater defense capability.

On September 12, 2007, an arms notification was sent to the U.S. Congress concerning an order for 12 P-3C Orion patrol aircraft and 3 "spare aircraft", along with an order for 144 SM-2 Block IIIA surface-to-air missiles. A contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin to refurbish the 12 P-3C Orion aircraft for the ROC on March 13, 2009, with deliveries to start in 2012.

On August 26, 2008, an arms notification was sent to Congress for an order for 60 air launched Harpoon Block II missiles for the 12 P-3C.

On October 3, 2008, an arms notification was sent to Congress for an order for 32 submarine launched Harpoon Block II missiles. At least a portion of these missiles will be installed on the navy's Hai-Lung class submarines.

On January 29, 2010, the U.S. government announced 5 notifications to the U.S. Congress for arms sales to the ROC. In the contracts total 6.392 Billion USD, ROC Navy will get 2 Osprey class mine hunters for 105 million USD,25 Link 16 terminals on ships for 340 millions, 10 ship and 2 air launched Harpoon L/II for 37 millions.

The ROC Navy already has 95 older Harpoon missiles in its inventory for the 8 Knox frigates, 22 newer RGM-84L for the 4 Kidd DDGs, 32 sub launched Harpoon II on order for the 2 Zwaardvis/Hai Lung submarines, and with 60 air launched Harpoon Block II anti-ship missile on order for the 12 P-3C, plus the newly announced 10 ship launched and 2 air launched Harpoon II/L sales.

On August 31, 2010, it was announced for next year's defense budget, ROCN plan to lease 1 or 2 more Newport LSTs from US, but the 900 ton stealth corvette plan has been put on hold, due to lack of budget.

On September 29, 2010, the U.S. Congress passed resolution, authorizing U.S. government for sales of 1 more Osprey class mine hunter to the ROC.

Other ongoing locally upgrade program includes locally designed and built Ching Chiang class of 12 patrol ships that were designed back in 1990s to carry 4 HF-1 anti-ship missiles on board but only the lead ship of the class had them. Since 2006, 7 ships of this class were upgraded to carry 4 HF-2/3 with W-160 fire control radar from Wu Chin III program (as well as Honeywell H-930 MCS CDS stripped from 7 retired Yang class Wu Chin 3 AAW DDGs). On 2010 it was found more ships of this class undergoing this same upgrade program but using CSIST produced fire control radars instead. Currently 4 different variants exist within this class, the original Ching Chiang patrol ship with 4 HF-1 (1 existing in this configuration), remaining of unknown number(originally the rest of the 11 patrol ships in this class) that were built without any sort of anti-ship missiles on board, at most 7 upgraded with Wu Chin III program's radars and 2x2 subsonic HF-2 anti-ship missiles, and 2+ is spotted with 2x2 HF-3 supersonic anti-ship missiles with new unknown CSIST search and fire control radar.

On December 29, 2010, 2 LST (中肇、中治戰車登陸艦) and 4 remaining of Adjutant class coastal mine hunters were retired.

On October 31, 2011, all 8 PCL in 124th Fleet, retired.

On December 28, 2011, the 2 Lung Jiang (PSMM Mk5) Missile Guided Patrol boats (PGG 601 and 602) in the 131st Fleet retired from ROC Navy service, after entered service in 1978 and 1981.