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.
FIREPOWER: On top of the torpedoes, the military would procure Kestrel II anti-tank weapons systems to replace aging license-produced M72 LAW launchers Taiwan is to receive US-made Mark 48 torpedoes and training simulators over the next three years, following delays that hampered the navy’s operational readiness, the Ministry of National Defense’s latest budget proposal showed. The navy next year would acquire four training simulator systems for the torpedoes and take receipt of 14 torpedoes in 2027 and 10 torpedoes in 2028, the ministry said in its budget for the next fiscal year. The torpedoes would almost certainly be utilized in the navy’s two upgraded Chien Lung-class submarines and the indigenously developed Hai Kun, should the attack sub successfully reach operational status. US President Donald Trump
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) is expected to start construction of its 1.4-nanometer chip manufacturing facilities at the Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP, 中部科學園區) as early as October, the Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) reported yesterday, citing the park administration. TSMC acquired land for the second phase of the park’s expansion in Taichung in June. Large cement, construction and facility engineering companies in central Taiwan have reportedly been receiving bids for TSMC-related projects, the report said. Supply-chain firms estimated that the business opportunities for engineering, equipment and materials supply, and back-end packaging and testing could reach as high as
ALL QUIET: The Philippine foreign secretary told senators she would not respond to questions about whether Lin Chia-lung was in the country The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday confirmed that a business delegation is visiting the Philippines, but declined to say whether Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) is part of the group, as Philippine lawmakers raised questions over Lin’s reported visit. The group is being led by Deputy Minister of Agriculture Huang Chao-chin (黃昭欽), Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA) chairman Joseph Lyu (呂桔誠) and US-Taiwan Business Council (USTBC) vice president Lotta Danielsson, the ministry said in a statement. However, sources speaking on condition of anonymity said that Lin is leading the delegation of 70 people. Filinvest New Clark City Innovation Park
TPP RALLY: The clashes occurred near the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall on Saturday at a rally to mark the anniversary of a raid on former TPP chairman Ko Wen-je People who clashed with police at a Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) rally in Taipei on Saturday would be referred to prosecutors for investigation, said the Ministry of the Interior, which oversees the National Police Agency. Taipei police had collected evidence of obstruction of public officials and coercion by “disorderly” demonstrators, as well as contraventions of the Assembly and Parade Act (集會遊行法), the ministry said in a statement on Sunday. It added that amid the “severe pushing and jostling” by some demonstrators, eight police officers were injured, including one who was sent to hospital after losing consciousness, allegedly due to heat stroke. The Taipei