TAIPEI - The Kaohsiung International Maritime and Defense Industry Expo held last week in southern Taiwan could be considered a public relations disaster. But despite being pancaked between two typhoons -- forcing a delay of one day that pushed it into the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival -- and ending with numerous exhibitors, visitors, and guests failing to show up, the expo still managed to stand up despite a second typhoon slamming into the island, further reaping chaos and destruction.

The first maritime expo of its kind was a serious effort, despite the disarray, of introducing the international defense industry to Taiwan's shipbuilding capabilities and programs. Exhibitions were broken down into amphibious task force equipment, combat systems, communications, construction, platform equipment, propellers, radar, shafting, ship design, telemetry and underwater operations.

Local entities and companies included Ching Fu Shipbuilding, Coast Guard Administration, Hung Hua Construction, Jong Shyn Shipbuilding, Ministry of National Defense (MND), MND Armaments Bureau, MND Material Production Center, National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology, National Defense University, and the Taiwan Navy. International participants included DCNS, Harris, L-3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Thales.

The show was intended to give the navy its big boost in an effort to spend $14.7 billion on indigenous shipbuilding programs and upgrade projects. The 23-year program, announced in June, includes eight attack submarines, mid-life upgrades to two existing Dutch-built submarines, four 6,000-8,000-ton destroyers under the New Generation Major Combatant Program outfitted with a locally designed and built AEGIS Combat Decision Center, and fifteen 2,000-3,000-ton frigates under the Future Frigate Program (FFP). 

According to US-based AMI International Naval Analysts & Advisors, the FFP program is not funded yet and will need a steady funding stream in place by the late 2020s if the Taiwan navy intends on replacing the aging Knox, La Fayette, and Perry frigates. 

The navy's program also includes a 30,000-ton General Purpose Amphibious Assault Ship (LHD) similar in size and capability as the Spanish Navy's Juan Carlos I design in service with Spain and Australia, and now being built by the Turkish Naval Force, according to AMI. 

However, the LHD was not listed in the June navy announcement, but if it comes to fruition the ship will have Taiwan's first ship-based air group made up of either rotary helicopters or fixed-wing, short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing aircraft.  Taiwan defense officials have expressed a longstanding interest in F-35B stealth fighters or refurbished Harrier Jump Jets. Taiwan already has two squadrons of AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters and is now taking deliveries of 60 UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters that could accommodate the ship.

The navy also plans to construct a 16,000-ton Landing Platform Dock (LPD) with a large flight deck capable of handling four helicopters, along with 25 tanks, 70 armored personnel carriers, and 600 troops. The vessel will be armed with the new Tien Chien-2N air-defense missiles, 20mm Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems, and a 76mm bow gun.  A design contract is planned for the end of 2016 with a request for proposals (RfP) being issued in 2017. Construction is expected in 2018 with the first unit entering service in 2022. They will replace the aging Anchorage Landing Ship Dock and the two Newport-class Tank Landing Ships.

The navy plan calls for the local production of four 2,500-ton Multi-Purpose Transports to replace the retiring Wu Gang-class transports, used to ferry troops to shore, support special operations, minelaying, and humanitarian missions. According to AMI, the contract for the design work occurred in May and the RfP will be issued in late 2017, with construction slated for 2018. The four units will enter service in the 2012-2024 timeframe.

Taiwan's submarine program was a major draw at the Kaohsiung exhibition despite the weather and holiday overlap.  According to exhibition officials, the China Shipbuilding Corporation (CSBC-Taiwan) has developed a prototype pressure hull for the Indigenous Defense Submarine.  The experimental hull was developed under CSBC's Qianlong Project. Taiwan's ministry of science and technology and Ming Rong Yuan Business Co. joined forces with various research institutes to develop systems and hardware on display at the exhibition, including a miniature model made of high strength HSLA-80 alloy steel.

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