The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology yesterday provided an update on an anti-missile interceptor developed under the Chiang Kung (Strong Bow, 強弓) program, highlighting a key weapon in Taiwan’s “T-Dome” national air defense system.
The Chiang Kung missile, also known as the Tien Kung IV (Sky Bow, 天弓), has a maximum interception altitude of 70km, the state-run institute has said.
The Chiang Kung missile complements the Tien Kung III and Patriot missiles to achieve multilayered defensive capabilities against missiles and aircraft in all altitudes, the Ministry of National Defense said.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
Its active electronically scanned array radar marks a significant improvement in detection and acquisition performance compared with the passive radars utilized by the Patriot and Tien Kung III systems, the ministry said.
The new interceptor could be integrated into Taiwan’s air defense matrix as soon as next year, the ministry said.
Writing in an update to its Web site, the institute said that the Chiang Kung system is composed of Chiang Kung missiles, land-based transporter erector vehicles, a tactical command center vehicle and a vehicle-mounted radar.
The Chiang Kung missile’s radar system offers enhanced target identification, multiple tactical ballistic missile engagement, electronic counter-countermeasures and target tracking, the institute said.
Designed to defeat tactical ballistic missiles at mesospheric heights, the Chiang Kung interceptor’s rocket uses terminal-phase thrust vectoring to improve maneuverability at high altitudes, where air density is low, the institute said.
The system features “precision guidance and directional warhead for improved lethality, and an integrally molded composite material [rocket] motor to ease production,” it said.
The missile’s maximum velocity reaches hypersonic speeds, uses a high-explosive fragmentation type warhead, a two-stage solid-state rocket, a mixed guidance system that combines inertia guidance with radar uplink adjustments and an active seeker in the terminal stage, the institute added.
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