Article Posted on : - Apr 13, 2010

An unrelated photo of Ming De a Ex-Kidd class Destoryer of the Taiwanese Navy

TAIPEI (BNS): The Taiwanese Navy has unveiled first images of a high-tech missile corvette specifically designed to counter threats from China, a media report said.

A computerized graphic of the 1,000-ton "carrier killer," was being displayed at Taipei's military museum, an AFP report said.

The vessel capable of cruising at speeds of up to 34 miles (55 kilometers) per hour will be armed with Taiwan's home-grown Hsiungfeng III supersonic ship-to-ship missile, it said.

Meanwhile, representatives of the U S government and U S helicopters' manufacturer, Boeing Co., will arrive here next month to finalize the sale of 30 AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters to Taiwan.

Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the U S-Taiwan Business Council, said the Apaches will begin to arrive in Taiwan between the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013.

The helicopters will be equipped with Stinger Block I air-to-air missiles and AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, a report by Defense News said.

The United States had offered the helicopters to Taiwan in 2002, but the U S Defense Security Cooperation Agency did not formally notify Congress of the sale until October 2008, it said.