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.
CHAOS: Iranians took to the streets playing celebratory music after reports of Khamenei’s death on Saturday, while mourners also gathered in Tehran yesterday Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a major attack on Iran launched by Israel and the US, throwing the future of the Islamic republic into doubt and raising the risk of regional instability. Iranian state television and the state-run IRNA news agency announced the 86-year-old’s death early yesterday. US President Donald Trump said it gave Iranians their “greatest chance” to “take back” their country. The announcements came after a joint US and Israeli aerial bombardment that targeted Iranian military and governmental sites. Trump said the “heavy and pinpoint bombing” would continue through the week or as long
TRUST: The KMT said it respected the US’ timing and considerations, and hoped it would continue to honor its commitments to helping Taiwan bolster its defenses and deterrence US President Donald Trump is delaying a multibillion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan to ensure his visit to Beijing is successful, a New York Times report said. The weapons sales package has stalled in the US Department of State, the report said, citing US officials it did not identify. The White House has told agencies not to push forward ahead of Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), it said. The two last month held a phone call to discuss trade and geopolitical flashpoints ahead of the summit. Xi raised the Taiwan issue and urged the US to handle arms sales to
State-run CPC Corp, Taiwan (CPC, 台灣中油) yesterday said that it had confirmed on Saturday night with its liquefied natural gas (LNG) and crude oil suppliers that shipments are proceeding as scheduled and that domestic supplies remain unaffected. The CPC yesterday announced the gasoline and diesel prices will rise by NT$0.2 and NT$0.4 per liter, respectively, starting Monday, citing Middle East tensions and blizzards in the eastern United States. CPC also iterated it has been reducing the proportion of crude oil imports from the Middle East and diversifying its supply sources in the past few years in response to geopolitical risks, expanding
Pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai’s (黎智英) fraud conviction and prison sentence were yesterday overturned by a Hong Kong court, in a surprise legal decision that comes soon after Lai was jailed for 20 years on a separate national security charge. Judges Jeremy Poon (潘兆初), Anthea Pang (彭寶琴) and Derek Pang (彭偉昌) said in the judgement that they allowed the appeal from Lai, and another defendant in the case, to proceed, as a lower court judge had “erred.” “The Court of Appeal gave them leave to appeal against their conviction, allowed their appeals, quashed the convictions and set aside the sentences,” the judges
RSS