The program was announced by the Republic of China (Taiwan) Ministry of National Defense (MND) on 12 April 2010.
In 2011, the Taiwanese Legislative Yuan approved a NT$24.98 billion (US$853.4 million) budget to fund the construction of up to 12 ships [REF].On 18 April 2011 a top military officer and a lawmaker announced that the construction of a 500-ton prototype would begin in 2012.