The Ministry of National Defense’s Special Budget for Acquisitions under the Sea-Air Combat Power Improvement Plan is expected to significantly stimulate the domestic economy, with the ministry having allotted NT$176.27 billion (US$5.45 billion) to purchase various items from domestic suppliers, the ministry’s latest report to the Legislative Yuan showed.
The report said that missile acquisition and production comprise the majority of the budget set aside to purchase domestic supplies at NT$88.82 billion, while purchases of a variety of platforms stand at NT$31.8 billion, construction efforts are estimated at NT$38.09 billion and logistics-related acquisitions at NT$17.5 billion.
The improvement plan intends to establish coastal anti-surface batteries, which call for increased production of Hsiung Feng II (Brave Wind, 雄風) and III missiles, as well as Hsiung Sheng Missile Systems which use the Hsiung Feng IIE and extended-range Hsiung Feng IIE cruise missiles.
Photo: Ministry of National Defense via AP
The improvement plan also calls for the acquisition of highly efficient ships, the acquisition of Wan Chien (Thousand Sword, 萬劍) cluster-munition missiles, Chien Hsiang (劍翔) uncrewed aerial vehicles developed by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology, as well as ground-based surface-to-air missile (SAM) bases featuring Tien Kung III missiles (Sky Bow, 天弓) and their extended range variant, the report said.
It added that the project also aims to acquire more field-based SAMs and is looking into the possibility of arming the Coast Guard Administration during times of war.
Citing a previous report, the ministry said annual production rates for land-based and ship-based Tien Chien (Sky Sword, 天劍) missiles have risen from 40 to 150; the rate for Sky Bow missiles has doubled from 48 to 96. The rate for Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Sheng missiles, which share a production line, has risen from 81 to 131, while the rate for Hsiung Feng III supersonic anti-ship missiles has risen from 20 to 70.
In terms of counteroffensive weapons, Wan Chien missiles are expected to see an annual production rate of 50, up from 18 currently, while the rate of production of the Jian Hsiang drone, which does not yet have an annual production rate, is expected to reach 48 per year, the report said.
UPGRADE: The Kang Ding-class frigate is replacing its Chaparall missiles with Tien Chien II and Hua Yang VLS, which would provide it with long-range, 360° air defense Taiwan plans to produce 1,200 to 1,376 Hai Chien II missiles (海劍二, Sea Sword II) — also known as TC-2N — to serve as the standard air defense system of the navy’s surface combatant fleet, a source said yesterday. Last week, the Hai Chien II, the naval version of the Tien Kung II missile (天劍二, Sky Sword II), completed a live-fire test in waters off the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s Jiupeng facility (九鵬) in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州). The MIM72 Chaparral and other dated air defense missiles that currently arm Taiwanese ships have inadequate range to combat Chinese
REASONS FOR TRAVEL: An assistant professor said that proposed amendments to penalize drivers if they used drugs overseas would not deter people from traveling People who operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana would have their driver’s license revoked, even if they used the substance while overseas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday, citing proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). The amendments would also authorize the government to revoke the licenses of people determined to have used Category 1 or Category 2 narcotics, even if they were not operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, as well as ban them from taking the license test for three years, the ministry said. People aged 18 or
Johanne Liou (劉喬安), a Taiwanese woman who shot to unwanted fame during the Sunflower movement protests in 2014, returned to Taiwan last night after being deported from the US. She is to stand trial in Taiwan for charges involving embezzlement, fraud and drug crimes. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said it took her into custody at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and would first question her before transferring her to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office. She was arrested upon disembarking a flight from San Francisco that landed shortly before 7pm. Liou absconded to the US in 2019 after jumping bail
Shih Hsin University President Chen Ching-he (陳清河) yesterday issued a public apology for comments made in his commencement speech last week, stating that he has asked the school to suspend his duties and halt his wages for two months as a show of contrition. At the commencement ceremony on May 30, Chen said, “If you don’t manage your time well, or your own emotions, or your health, then I am telling every one of you — put a quick end to ‘you,’ because the world has no need for ‘you.’” The comments have sparked significant controversy online, and Chen through an open
RSS