The Ministry of National Defense plans to develop supersonic combustion ramjet, or scramjet, technology linked to hypersonic missile systems, a solicitation notice issued by the ministry for next year’s National Defense Advanced Research Program said.
The Chungshan Insitute of Science and Technology would oversee the program to create a heat-resistant composite ceramic material and improve scramjet engine ignition and flame retention, the ministry said in a notice issued to Taiwanese universities in June.
This program — scheduled to be implemented over three years — revolves around materials and technologies underlying scramjet engine performance.
Photo: Chen Chih-cheng, Taipei Times
Hypersonic systems are superior to conventional ballistic missiles with regard to deterrence value, as their speed, altitude and maneuver-in-flight capabilities give the target little time to implement countermeasures or retaliatory strikes.
The scramjet program is evidence that the armed forces likely plan to obtain a type of long-range system capable of deterring China.
Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology adviser Su Yu-pen (蘇玉本) earlier this month said that materials science and thermal design would be crucial in the nation’s bid to develop hypersonic technology.
Taiwan has no lack of resources or expertise in other fields relevant to hypersonic weapon systems, he said.
Separately, the government has issued an airspace closure notice, as the air force is to conduct fighter exercises using live munitions over the ocean to the east of Taiwan from Aug. 27 to Sept. 12.
The air-to-air missile drills would involve F-16 jets armed with AIM-120 and AIM-9X missiles, Mirage 2000 jets armed with the MICA and R.550 Magic missiles, and AIDC-F-CK-1 jets armed with Tien Chien II missiles, a defense official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The navy is also holding large-scale weapons exercises in waters east of Taitung and Pingtung County, west of Green Island (綠島) and Orchid Island (Lanyu, 蘭嶼), and south of Orchid Island and Pingtung, government notices have said.
The drills, which likely involve the use of surface-to-air and anti-ship missiles by warships, are to be held until the end of this month, they said.
The large size and unlimited altitude of the exercises imply that a sinking exercise could be included in the drills, sources said.
Last week, the army began conducting “maintenance fire” artillery drills, replacing the live-fire component that used to be included in the annual Han Kuang military exercises.
The Eighth Army Corps and marine units are expected to begin live-fire TOW missile exercises later this month.
People can preregister to receive their NT$10,000 (US$325) cash distributed from the central government on Nov. 5 after President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday signed the Special Budget for Strengthening Economic, Social and National Security Resilience, the Executive Yuan told a news conference last night. The special budget, passed by the Legislative Yuan on Friday last week with a cash handout budget of NT$236 billion, was officially submitted to the Executive Yuan and the Presidential Office yesterday afternoon. People can register through the official Web site at https://10000.gov.tw to have the funds deposited into their bank accounts, withdraw the funds at automated teller
PEACE AND STABILITY: Maintaining the cross-strait ‘status quo’ has long been the government’s position, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Taiwan is committed to maintaining the cross-strait “status quo” and seeks no escalation of tensions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday, rebutting a Time magazine opinion piece that described President William Lai (賴清德) as a “reckless leader.” The article, titled “The US Must Beware of Taiwan’s Reckless Leader,” was written by Lyle Goldstein, director of the Asia Program at the Washington-based Defense Priorities think tank. Goldstein wrote that Taiwan is “the world’s most dangerous flashpoint” amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He said that the situation in the Taiwan Strait has become less stable
CONCESSION: A Shin Kong official said that the firm was ‘willing to contribute’ to the nation, as the move would enable Nvidia Crop to build its headquarters in Taiwan Shin Kong Life Insurance Co (新光人壽) yesterday said it would relinquish land-use rights, or known as surface rights, for two plots in Taipei’s Beitou District (北投), paving the way for Nvidia Corp to expand its office footprint in Taiwan. The insurer said it made the decision “in the interest of the nation’s greater good” and would not seek compensation from taxpayers for potential future losses, calling the move a gesture to resolve a months-long impasse among the insurer, the Taipei City Government and the US chip giant. “The decision was made on the condition that the Taipei City Government reimburses the related
FRESH LOOK: A committee would gather expert and public input on the themes and visual motifs that would appear on the notes, the central bank governor said The central bank has launched a comprehensive redesign of New Taiwan dollar banknotes to enhance anti-counterfeiting measures, improve accessibility and align the bills with global sustainability standards, Governor Yang Chin-long (楊金龍) told a meeting of the legislature’s Finance Committee yesterday. The overhaul would affect all five denominations — NT$100, NT$200, NT$500, NT$1,000 and NT$2,000 notes — but not coins, Yang said. It would be the first major update to the banknotes in 24 years, as the current series, introduced in 2001, has remained in circulation amid rapid advances in printing technology and security standards. “Updating the notes is essential to safeguard the integrity
RSS