What concerns me in that Korean ships, is that IMO they back too much on too small, and thats never recepy for succses. Also, Before that biggest SK build surface ships had been the Ulsan class ligth frigates, so It would have been risky deal to purchase ships before Korean Own navy had any experience wheter their shipyards could come up with succsefull ships.
Ofcourse, the KDX program seems to go on fine, so that migth have been death concern. Also, I agree Lafayettes AD is almoust useless compared to what the Korean ship would have offered. As it came known, the French deal was hampered by mainland opposition, but would that have inflicted to SK ones? Expecially, when the armament fit would have been from US? Im not that big expert on China-Korean relations, but that sure is intresting side note on the Taiwan’s proplematic naval accustion history.

Well, I believe by the time Korea offered the ships to Taiwan, they learn to overcome many problems they faced when building Ulsan class warships. Also, civil shipbuilding was booming at time, building supertankers for Korean and foreign customers. So technical improvement in civil can be transferred to military with little or no difficulty. Plus before late nineties, naval projects for foreign customers was the biggest arm industry in Korea at the time.

And as for the relations with PRC, there was none. This happened before diplomatic relations was first established between RoK and PRC. Of course, Korea diplomats may influence the sale in regard to possible PRC relations, that is something to speculate.

PS: Don’t you think the Ulsan derivative look like smaller version of US Spruance class?
Also, can anyone has better pictures of those models?

You think so? It hardly resembles it. If someone has any additional info, please don´t hold yourself back:-))

I remember reading it from Jane’s book about that.
South Korea offered 16 to Taiwan who needed coastal defense warships like Ulsan derivative.
But French gave big bribe, so Taiwan purchased 6 Lafayette.
I don’t know if this will help, but if you browse Jane’s Navy book from late 80s to early 90s, it mentions in Taiwan category.

Articles about the scandal.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/taiwan/2006/taiwan-060724-cna02.htm
http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:BZY7pWwY7j0J:english.www.gov.tw/TaiwanHeadlines/index.jsp%3Fprint%3D1%26categid%3D8%26recordid%3D97407+taiwan+korea+ulsan+warship&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=us
http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:zGal1h-pyo0J:english.www.gov.tw/TaiwanHeadlines/index.jsp%3Fcategid%3D8%26recordid%3D88979+taiwan+korea+ulsan+warship&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=us

RoKAF alternate history thread*

1960:**
12 F-86 squadrons
6 A-1 squadrons

1966:
12 F-86 squadrons
6 F-5 squadrons
9 A-1 squadrons(3 stationed in Vietnam)

1976:
12 F-5 squadrons
6 F-4 squadrons
6 A-1 Skyraiders
3 A-37 squadrons

1986:
12 F-5 squadrons
6 F-4 squadrons
6 A-10 squadrons
3 Tornado IDS squadrons

1996:
12 Northrop F/A-18L squadrons***
6 F-4 squadrons
6 A-10 squadrons
3 Tornado IDS squadrons

* In my alternate history scenario, someone beside Syngman Rhee becomes president of RoK, US leaves enough artillery assets to equip nine divisions for RoK in 1948, fighting gets stalemated just north of Seoul(no Pusan Perimeter), amphibious assault on Nampo, no separate commands between Eighth Army and X Corps during drive north, UN forces stop before Chongchon river to consolidate their line, MacArthur does not panic when PLA first attack, fighting eventually stabilize around 50 km north of Pyongyang and when ceasefire declared, PRC has buffer zone between Chongchon river and Yalu.

** Concentrating only on combat aircraft complement.

***Or equivalent version by McDonnell Douglas

Here’s the pic of the emblem

Russia did experimented with in the sixties.
They hope to built it as troop transport.
Never put into production.

For Korea’s attempt, I see only as civilian use, perhaps until technology matures and military see a potential.

Go here http://www.kordi.re.kr/ for Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute website.
And.
http://www.se-technology.com/wig/index.php

Back to Jap F-2, a month ago, I have read a local news paper in America, that they are going to cancel the production because some proplem with it (related to its composite airframe). Instead, they are going to buy JSF.

I don’t know how reliable.

I too have heard that only 60 will be procured.
Shame.
So much invested, so little gained.