Sat, Apr 29, 2023 page1

• New missile bolsters air defense: MND

  RECORD RANGE: The missile intercepted objects at altitudes of up to 70km, although it could theoretically intercept incoming rockets at altitudes of 100km, a source said

  • By Lo Tien-pin and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writer
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  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.

  

  A Tien Kung III surface-to-air defense missile is launched in an undated photograph.

  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.
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