The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) now being developed by the Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST) is to be put through its paces in this year's Hankuang No. 19 exercise. If the robot aircraft passes the test, it will likely to go into production, defense sources said yesterday.
The UAV, code-named "Chung Hsiang No. 2," is currently undergoing intensive test flights at a missile test site in Pingtung, southern Taiwan.
It is to take part in this year's Hankuang No. 19 exercise that is scheduled to begin on April 18.
It is not the first time that the Chung Hsiang No. 2 will have been tested in the annual Hankuang-series exercises. But this year's test will be a difficult one, providing a chance for the military to find out whether the UAV is to go into production.
The development of the unmanned plane is a multi-year project of the CSIST. It is scheduled to be wound up by the end of this year.
The Chung Hsiang No. 2 development has been accelerated since last year when China started to deploy a type of armed UAV along its southeastern coast, sources said.
The Chinese armed UAV is considered to be a potential threat to Taiwan, since it is capable of firing weapons at surface targets.
Its deployment was recently confirmed by Minister of National Defense Tang Yao-ming (
Tang said besides ballistic missiles, the military now has also to prepare for defense against cruise missiles and unmanned aircraft from China.
China has a long history in the development of UAVs. Intelligence reports say that Beijing has already deployed a variety of unmanned aircraft capable of executing tactical missions.
The Chung Hsiang No. 2 is one of two UAVs that the insititute is developing at the same time. The other model is known as Kestrel II, which is smaller than the Chung Hsiang No. 2.
The Chung Hsiang No. 2 has a bigger payload and longer endurance in the air than the Kestrel II.
An defense official, who has knowledge of the UAV project, said that the Chung Hsiang No. 2 still might not be the type of UAV that the military wants.
"The payload of the Chung Hsiang No. 2 is still not large enough. A foreign country is trying to sell Taiwan a different type of UAV which has a greater payload," the official said, speaking on condition of anonimity.
"It is not known which UAV the military wants to buy."
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