The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology has developed a polycyclic nitroamine explosive, commonly known as CL-20, which is the most powerful non-nuclear explosive known, a government source said yesterday on condition of anonymity.
The institute has significantly improved explosive and rocket propellant research and development in recent years, the source said.
A new factory was established in June 2022 with NT$540 million (US$16.6 million) in equipment installed, the source said.
Photo copied by Chen Wen-chan, Taipei Times
A central complex that would house 50-gallon (189 liters) and 300-gallon (1,136 liters) explosive mixer machines, as well as a storage device, was constructed in the factory, the institute said.
The explosive is 40 percent more powerful than those currently used and could be deployed for Hsiung Feng II (“Brave Wind” II, HF-II) and HF-III missiles, the source said.
The source did not comment on what other type of domestically manufactured missiles would be compatible with the CL-20 compound.
However, the institute has the intellectual property rights to all development and manufacturing of products using CL-20, and may authorize its use and production outside of the institute in favor of growing the national defense industry, the source added.
The US, the EU, China and Russia have also researched and made the compound, but due to its high-technical barrier and manufacturing costs, it has not entered commercial production, the source said.
Despite difficulties in mass production, CL-20 has seen some minor uses within the US and China, and has also been used in the Russia-Ukraine war, the source said.
The institute carries the heavy responsibility of researching and developing explosive compounds for the national defense sector, which has become even more important following the passage of the Sea-Air Combat Power Improvement Plan Purchase Special Regulation (海空戰力生計畫採購特別條例) and the increased production of missiles of all types, the source said.
The research and development of rocket propellants was a significant task, the institute said, adding that it was building a solid foundation for basic production capabilities.
To achieve this, the institute said it has ensured that the compound mixing and propellant research areas are safe, equipped with up-to-date machinery and technology, and are comfortable to work in.
In tandem with domestic companies, the institute has researched and built a 1,136-liter mixer from the ground up, further enhancing the autonomy of Taiwan’s national defense sector.
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION: The UK would continue to reinforce ties with Taiwan ‘in a wide range of areas’ as a part of a ‘strong unofficial relationship,’ a paper said The UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. British Member of Parliament Desmond Swayne said that the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey had passed through the Taiwan Strait “in pursuit of vital international freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” Swayne asked Lammy whether he agreed that it was “proper and lawful” to do so, and if the UK would continue to carry out similar operations. Lammy replied “yes” to both questions. The
‘OF COURSE A COUNTRY’: The president outlined that Taiwan has all the necessary features of a nation, including citizens, land, government and sovereignty President William Lai (賴清德) discussed the meaning of “nation” during a speech in New Taipei City last night, emphasizing that Taiwan is a country as he condemned China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758. The speech was the first in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. It is the responsibility of Taiwanese citizens to stand united to defend their national sovereignty, democracy, liberty, way of life and the future of the next generation, Lai said. This is the most important legacy the people of this era could pass on to future generations, he said. Lai went on to discuss
MISSION: The Indo-Pacific region is ‘the priority theater,’ where the task of deterrence extends across the entire region, including Taiwan, the US Pacific Fleet commander said The US Navy’s “mission of deterrence” in the Indo-Pacific theater applies to Taiwan, Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Stephen Koehler told the South China Sea Conference on Tuesday. The conference, organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), is an international platform for senior officials and experts from countries with security interests in the region. “The Pacific Fleet’s mission is to deter aggression across the Western Pacific, together with our allies and partners, and to prevail in combat if necessary, Koehler said in the event’s keynote speech. “That mission of deterrence applies regionwide — including the South China Sea and Taiwan,” he
UNPRECEDENTED: In addition to the approved recall motions, cases such as Ma Wen-chun’s in Nantou are still under review, while others lack enough signatures The Central Election Commission (CEC) announced yesterday that a recall vote would take place on July 26, after it approved the first batch of recall motions targeting 24 Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers and Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao (高虹安). Taiwan is in the midst of an unprecedented wave of mass recall campaigns, following a civil society push that echoed a call made by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) in January to initiate signature drives aimed at unseating KMT legislators. Under the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法), Taiwanese can initiate a recall of district-elected lawmakers by collecting
RSS