The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology has completed work on a project codenamed “Strong Bow” (強弓), an extended-range version of the Tien Kung III (天弓三, “Sky Bow” III) surface-to-air defense missile, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said in a report to the legislature.
Testing of the missile’s combat readiness was completed in February, and preparations have begun for mass production and incorporation of the missile into the armed forces’ restructuring plan, the ministry said.
The report to the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee was written following a request from legislators across party lines for an update on the institute’s progress on developing defensive responses to missile attacks.
Photo courtesy of the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology
During testing, the missile intercepted objects at altitudes of up to 70km, a source said on condition of anonymity.
A second variant of the Strong Bow, currently in testing, has an estimated intercept altitude of 100km, the person said.
The maximum intercept height of Sky Bow III and Patriot III missiles — both of which are in service in Taiwan — is 40km.
“Although the Strong Bow is referred to as an extended-range Sky Bow III missile, the two are different systems,” the person said.
“The Strong Bow is equipped with a domestically produced, high-efficiency microwave power amplifier, which can intercept intercontinental ballistic missiles and other objects at much greater altitudes than the US-made Patriot missile,” the person said.
The Strong Bow also uses a new type of cone cover, along with a composite material for the fuselage and a more efficient propulsion system, all of which are an improvement on the Sky Bow III’s performance, the source said.
The Chungshan Institute had been testing the Strong Bow at a missile base in Pingtung County’s Jiupengwan Bay (九鵬灣), where it also might be testing a longer-range version of the Hsiung Feng II-E (雄風, “Brave Wind”) missile, under the project name Hsiung Sheng (雄昇), the person said.
Part of those tests included simulated intercepts of a ballistic missile, which was first successfully tested at the site on Aug. 18 last year, the source said.
The ministry said it is bolstering its overall missile defense network to provide it with an improved defensive advantage against enemy threats.
DEFENSE: The first set of three NASAMS that were previously purchased is expected to be delivered by the end of this year and deployed near the capital, sources said Taiwan plans to procure 28 more sets of M-142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), as well as nine additional sets of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), military sources said yesterday. Taiwan had previously purchased 29 HIMARS launchers from the US and received the first 11 last year. Once the planned purchases are completed and delivered, Taiwan would have 57 sets of HIMARS. The army has also increased the number of MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) purchased from 64 to 84, the sources added. Each HIMARS launch pod can carry six Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, capable of
Tropical Storm Podul strengthened into a typhoon at 8pm yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, with a sea warning to be issued late last night or early this morning. As of 8pm, the typhoon was 1,020km east of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, moving west at 23kph. The storm carried maximum sustained winds of 119kph and gusts reaching 155kph, the CWA said. Based on the tropical storm’s trajectory, a land warning could be issued any time from midday today, it added. CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張竣堯) said Podul is a fast-moving storm that is forecast to bring its heaviest rainfall and strongest
GET TO SAFETY: Authorities were scrambling to evacuate nearly 700 people in Hualien County to prepare for overflow from a natural dam formed by a previous typhoon Typhoon Podul yesterday intensified and accelerated as it neared Taiwan, with the impact expected to be felt overnight, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, while the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration announced that schools and government offices in most areas of southern and eastern Taiwan would be closed today. The affected regions are Tainan, Kaohsiung and Chiayi City, and Yunlin, Chiayi, Pingtung, Hualien and Taitung counties, as well as the outlying Penghu County. As of 10pm last night, the storm was about 370km east-southeast of Taitung County, moving west-northwest at 27kph, CWA data showed. With a radius of 120km, Podul is carrying maximum sustained
TRAJECTORY: The severe tropical storm is predicted to be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday, and would influence the nation to varying degrees, a forecaster said The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said it would likely issue a sea warning for Tropical Storm Podul tomorrow morning and a land warning that evening at the earliest. CWA forecaster Lin Ting-yi (林定宜) said the severe tropical storm is predicted to be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was moving west at 21kph and packing sustained winds of 108kph and gusts of up to 136.8kph, the CWA said. Lin said that the tropical storm was about 1,710km east of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, with two possible trajectories over the next one
RSS