Tian Dan was intended to be the first hull of the second batch of the class, with improved armament and electronics.

The ship was constructed beginning in 2001 by the China Shipbuilding Corporation in Taiwan and the frigate was launched in 2002 and entered service with the ROCN in 2004.

In 2014, Tian Dan was among the Taiwanese vessels sent to assist in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 flight.

The Cheng Kung class are based on the long-hulled version of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates of the United States Navy but with modifications.

[1] They carry 587 long tons (596 t)[2] of fuel giving them a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph).

[2] The frigates were initially armed with eight Hsiung Feng II SSMs placed in two box launchers located atop the superstructure aft of the bridge.

[2][a] The Cheng Kung class mounts a 20 mm (0.79 in)/76 Phalanx close-in weapon system (CIWS) atop the hangar.

[6] The class's Mk 75 main guns have been upgraded and have an improved firing rate of 100 rounds a minute.

[7] Tian Dan was initially ordered as the first ship of the second batch of the Cheng Kung class.

The ship was re-ordered from the China Shipbuilding Corporation at Kaoshuing, Taiwan, as a continuation of Batch I in January 1999, but funding for the vessel did not become available until December 2000.