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Navy successfully test-fires Hsiungfeng II missiles

The navy successfully test-fires a Hsiungfeng II anti-ship missiles at a base in Hualien County yesterday. PHOTO: YU TAI-LANG, TAIPEI TIMES

The navy successfully test-fired a Hsiungfeng II anti-ship missile from a naval base in Hualien County yesterday.

Military sources said this was the first time that a land-based Hsiungfeng II missile had been test-fired. The test-firing was part of the ongoing large-scale combined services Hankuang No. 18 exercise.

Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Li Chieh　(李傑) watched the test-firing at the Kuhai naval base, located on a small hill known as Hotien in Hualien County.

The Kuhai naval base, responsible for monitoring and safeguarding security in waters off the Hualien coast, is equipped with land-based Hsiungfeng II missiles to prevent Chinese troops from invading Taiwan by way of its eastern coast.

The Hsiungfeng II missile, developed by the military-run Chung-shan Institute of Science and Technology, has a range exceeding 150km and can be fired from land, sea or air. With a highly sophisticated radar system, the Hsiungfeng II missile has "fire-and-forget" functions.

The navy's Perry-class and Lafayette-class frigates are equipped with the advanced Hsiungfeng II missiles.

Also as part of the Hankuang No. 18 exercise, the military test-fired the Tienkung II air-defense missile at a southern army base last Friday. The missile test, watched by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), was a success, with the Kienkung II missile hitting a target drone at a range of 60km. The missile is said to have a range of 150km.
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