Tiwan are currently serving 8 Cheng Kung class frigates mod.Oliver Hazard Perry class.

Taiwan plans to buy US frigates despite China thaw: report

Taiwan plans to buy eight second-hand Perry-class frigates from the United States despite improved ties with its once-bitter foe China, a local newspaper reported Monday.

The island hopes to arm them with a version of the advanced Aegis Combat System, which uses computers and radar to take out multiple targets, as well as sophisticated missile launch technology, the Taipei-based China Times said.

It would be smart for the Taiwanese navy to replace its 8 ex-USN KNOX class frigates that it has been operating for 10 years (Chi Yang class, the oldest of which are now 39 years old) with something a bit newer. Given that Taiwan already operates locally built OHPs, used OHPs are an obvious choice, which can be provided with or via US military aid. I very much doubt though that the used ships would be refitted with the AEGIS system, not even the version with the small lightweight antennea (SPY-1K). For one, it would make more sense to refit the newer home built ships and/or the LaFayettes/Kang Dings.

Is it just me, or is the lack of red paint on the decks downright disturbing 😉

If it is not red, it should at least be green.!:cool:

2009 photos 🙂

http://navsource.narod.ru/03.html <– You would be surprised how many of the Sovremenny’s are in good shape too, about 7 – 8 vessels are in maintained condition.

You mean ‘well painted’ or actually maintained in sound working order :diablo:

You mean, apart from the RAF & the Italian air force, which intend to buy F-35B to operate jointly with their navies?

Note that the Italian air force also intends to buy F-35A.

No, I’ve assumed RAF to be taking B-version and it would make sense that Italy and – at some point – Spain would take B-version, but mainly for use on flattops. What I meant is taking the C version for their air forces. Like the F/A-18 was adopted by Australia, Canada, Spain, Switzerland etc. only now the competition would not be between F-16 and F/A-18 (as it was in those countries) but between A and C versions of F-35. Which supposedly are ‘joint’ but in practise are 2/3 to 3/4 unique aircraft.

That’s what I meant.:rolleyes:

News and graphics from the german F125-Frigates: Following a review of the relevant for the design of ships Rules had the ship’s draft F125 adapted and revised. The total Displacement will be about 7,600 tonnes and the length of the vessel will thereby to 149.52m increase…more (in german)http://www.dmkn.de/1779/ruestung.nsf/8A5FF8F3D0F72267C12576A1004491A0/$File/fregatte%20klasse%20125.pdf

Interesting find!

“Aufgrund einer Überarbeitung der für die Auslegung von Schiffen relevanten
Vorschriften musste der Schiffsentwurf der F125 angepasst und überarbeitet werden. Die Gesamtlänge des Schiffes wird sich hierdurch von ursprünglich 145,60 m auf 149,52 m erhöhen.”

In short, in order to comply with (legal?) standards for shipdesign the F125 had to be changed. This resulted in increased length and displacement.

Just a guess but I would expect it to be:

Comman – all 3 aircraft
Cousin – 2 aircraft
Unique – 1 aircraft

Although if that is the case then the tails in the C version must be the wrong colour:confused:

This is what puzzles me: if COMMON parts are shared by all three versions, then how come the % common-parts is different per version?

How are ‘COMMON’, ‘COUSINE’ and ‘UNIQUE’ defined here? In particular, does ‘COMMON’ mean e.g. ‘also used in 1 of the other 2 versions’ or e.g. ‘used in all 3 versions’. If the latter, I’m not quite sure how it can be that one version has more parts in common than another.

While you guys are busy debating, I would still like some response to my question if anyone has the info.

UPDATE:

not on the carrier, but on part of its airwing. apparently China has flown a Carrier based version of the J-10 :rolleyes:

http://newsrealblog.com/2009/12/30/china-determined-to-cut-into-russias-arms-sales/

and on another website, speculation is that the Hongdu L15 also have a naval version for deck landing training :confused:

How credible is this excerpt from the article, really:

Russian daily “Izvestia” reports that China recently successfully tested the naval version of its modern J-10 jet fighter. According to the paper, “… for the first time, China has confirmed not only its ability to create an aircraft carrier fleet, but also the ability to independently produce carrier-based fighters. This event can be regarded as a direct challenge to Russia and the U.S.”

According to Russian sources, the aircraft took off and landed on the deck of the aircraft carrier “Shi Lang”, named in honor of the Chinese general who conquered the island of Taiwan in 1683.