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Kidd-class destroyers back on track for Taiwan Navy
U.S. company begins reactivation work on four navy vessels
The United States-based VSE Corporation recently began work on a US$99.9 million contract it was awarded last year to reactivate four Kidd-class destroyers that were purchased by Taiwan in June 2003 amid considerable political controversy.
Work on the vessels will be staggered, with delivery of the first vessel scheduled for the end of 2005, and all four ships slated to be in the hands of Taiwan's navy by March 2007.
"We are off to a fast start on the Kidd class reactivation project," said Jim Knowlton, VSE executive vice president and director of its international group, in comments e-mailed to Taiwan News. "BAV and its team of subcontractors are focused on demonstrating our ability to provide outstanding worldwide technical service to foreign customers in support of the U.S. Navy's Security Assistance Directorate."
He described the work commissioned by the U.S. government as "a multiyear effort including towing, cold ship reactivation in a U.S. shipyard, logistics, training, crew support, and follow-on logistics and technical support after the transfers are completed."
One of VSE's main competitors, Northrop Grumman, was angry that it didn't win the contract, according to Jane's Defense Weekly.
"No company knows these ships as well as we do, and there are significant factors, such as unique knowledge of the NTU combat system, which reside nowhere else but within Northrop Grumman's domain," a Northrop Grumman spokesman told Jane's.
But VSE Chairman Don Ervine confidently declared his company had the experience and know-how to make the project work.
"Since 1995, BAV has transferred more than 30 ships to foreign governments. That includes the transfer of five ex-U.S. Navy ships to Taiwan," Ervine said last July when the U.S. government made its initial budget release for the project.
According to Jane's Defense Weekly, the USS Kidd and USS Scott are moored at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the USS Callahan and USS Chandler are at a similar facility in Bremerton, Washington.
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U.S. company begins reactivation work on four navy vessels
The United States-based VSE Corporation recently began work on a US$99.9 million contract it was awarded last year to reactivate four Kidd-class destroyers that were purchased by Taiwan in June 2003 amid considerable political controversy.
Work on the vessels will be staggered, with delivery of the first vessel scheduled for the end of 2005, and all four ships slated to be in the hands of Taiwan's navy by March 2007.
The BAV division of VSE Corporation, specialists in restoring military and commercial vessels, began at the beginning of February to rehabilitate the vessels that were decommissioned in 1998 and 1999.
"We are off to a fast start on the Kidd class reactivation project," said Jim Knowlton, VSE executive vice president and director of its international group, in comments e-mailed to Taiwan News. "BAV and its team of subcontractors are focused on demonstrating our ability to provide outstanding worldwide technical service to foreign customers in support of the U.S. Navy's Security Assistance Directorate."
He described the work commissioned by the U.S. government as "a multiyear effort including towing, cold ship reactivation in a U.S. shipyard, logistics, training, crew support, and follow-on logistics and technical support after the transfers are completed."
One of VSE's main competitors, Northrop Grumman, was angry that it didn't win the contract, according to Jane's Defense Weekly.
"No company knows these ships as well as we do, and there are significant factors, such as unique knowledge of the NTU combat system, which reside nowhere else but within Northrop Grumman's domain," a Northrop Grumman spokesman told Jane's.
But VSE Chairman Don Ervine confidently declared his company had the experience and know-how to make the project work.
"Since 1995, BAV has transferred more than 30 ships to foreign governments. That includes the transfer of five ex-U.S. Navy ships to Taiwan," Ervine said last July when the U.S. government made its initial budget release for the project.
The destroyer purchase was embroiled in a fierce debate. Opponents of the purchase included members of the legislature's powerful defense committee, which made several attempts to block the sale. Critics cited both the ships' age - they were built more than 20 years ago - and their high cost, and suggested that Taiwan should push the U.S. to release the AEGIS system earlier.
According to Jane's Defense Weekly, the USS Kidd and USS Scott are moored at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the USS Callahan and USS Chandler are at a similar facility in Bremerton, Washington.
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