The 186-tonne missile boat, designed by the navy, joined the navy at a ceremony presided over by naval commander-in-chief Admiral Miao Yung-ching.

The ship made its debut in the biggest wargames held on September 4. A Hsiungfeng II ship-to-ship missile, designed with a range of 150 kilometers (90 miles), was launched from the vessel and hit the target.

The navy plans to build 30 such missile boats under the "Kuanghwa Six Project."

"After an evaluation, the navy decided to build a fleet of fast missile boats at reasonable prices, and the construction can be completed within a short period of time. The boats are designed to serve as a deterrent," the navy said in a statement.

The navy said the "stealth" boat, designed to reduce the reflection of radar waves, measures 34.2 meters (113 feet) and is capable of cruising at a maximum speed of 33 knots.

Analysts said the boat may be able to "passively" receive intelligence collected by other Taiwan warships and enable the fleet to launch missile blitzes against targeted enemy warships without exposing their location.

Each missile boat will be armed with four locally-made Hsiungfeng II missiles.

The fleet is to replace dozens of aging 50-tonne Seagull missile boats, each of which is fitted with two 40-kilometer range Hsiungfeng I missiles.

Vice Admiral Hsu Chu-sheng had said the new ships will play a critical role in the next few years when the military balance between Taiwan and China is expected to tip towards Beijing.

China has repeatedly threatened to invade Taiwan should the island declare formal independence, prompting Taiwan to push for an arms build-up. Taiwan and China split in 1949 at the end of a civil war.

WAR.WIRE