DEFENSE/Mobile air defense system makes successful debut at Pingtung drill: Source
Taipei, April 16 (CNA) A surface-launched version of Taiwan's indigenously-developed Tien Chien II (TC-2) missile passed a test-firing Monday during its debut in a missile defense drill in Pingtung County, according to a source in the military.
Four of the TC-2 missiles were fired, and hit predetermined target drones at a distance of 10 kilometers during the live-fire exercise at Jiupeng Base, operated by the state-owned weapons developer National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), according to the source.
The drill was delayed until April 15 from April 9 due to weather conditions, the source said.
A report delivered last month to the Legislature by the Army indicated that one of the missiles launched would be tracked by radar to test its radar-homing feature, according to another source.
The surface-launched version of the TC-2, also known as the "field combat air defense system," was developed by NCSIST. It was delivered to the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan's official name) Army in May 2023 and replaces outgoing MIM-72A/M48 Chaparral surface-to-air missiles, the source said.
The surface-launched TC-2 variant consists of a launch platform, a car-mounted array radar system, and a missile vehicle and is controlled by a command post vehicle, the source said.
The TC-2 variant has a range of 15 kilometers and, with the help of the vehicles, is capable of 360-degree reconnaissance and surveillance, allowing it to be deployed against rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft, drones and cruise missiles, they said.
The NCSIST plans to test the field air defense weapons system once a year in live-fire exercises, they said.
Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Chen Yeong-kang (陳永康), a retired Navy admiral, said in response to media queries in Taipei Monday that the TC-2 air-to-air missiles have spawned the TC-2N ship-launched and field combat air defense variants, the latter of which is "very effective" at bolstering the Army's ground defenses.
The missile should be deployed in combination with the country's other air defense systems to more effectively serve its purpose, Chen said.
Richard Hu (胡瑞舟), deputy director of Taiwan Center for Security Studies, said the missile's range means that it will fortify a traditionally weak area of defense for the Army.
However, Hu noted that despite its car-mounted configuration, the field combat air defense system is not ideal for providing reinforcements across theaters of operations (T.O.) because that would expose them to enemy satellites, leaving them vulnerable to attacks by fighter jets, drones and missiles.
- 26 PLA aircraft cross Taiwan Strait median line or extension: MinistryA total of 26 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait or its extension in the 24-hour period starting at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday.05/15/2024 04:54 PM
- Huang Shu-kuang to remain indigenous sub program convener under LaiRetired Navy Admiral Huang Shu-kuang (黃曙光) will retain his roles as a National Security Council (NSC) advisor and the convener of the Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS) program after the new government is sworn in on May 20, the presidential handover committee announced Tuesday.05/14/2024 08:45 PM
- Taiwan, U.S. Pacific drills held based on international code: MNDAn unpublicized joint military exercise between Taiwan and the United States in the Pacific last month was carried out in accordance with an international code, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Tuesday.05/14/2024 05:09 PM
- Business
Labor ministry to meet with unions, Uber Eats, foodpanda May 29
05/15/2024 10:19 PM - Business
Kaohsiung airport flight availability reaches 82% of pre-COVID levels: CAA
05/15/2024 09:52 PM - Science & Tech
Hon Hai, Siemens sign MOU on EV ecosystem development
05/15/2024 09:29 PM - Politics
- Society
Taiwan reports first Japanese encephalitis death this year
05/15/2024 08:47 PM