DEFENSE/Military probes PAC-2 missile explosion during drill: Source

Taipei, Aug. 20 (CNA) Taiwan's military is probing an incident early Wednesday when one of its Patriot PAC-2 missiles reportedly exploded shortly after launch during an annual precision munition drill in southern Taiwan, a military source told CNA.

The probe into the reported explosion is still ongoing, with the cause of the incident currently unknown, according to the source, speaking under condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.

The unnamed source made the comments after several local media outlets reported earlier in the day that one of two Patriot PAC-2 missiles fired during Wednesday's drill held in Jiupeng, Pingtung County, exploded four seconds after launch.

The second Patriot PAC-2 missile fired during Wednesday morning's drill did so without incident, reports added.

However, Taiwan's military has not made a public statement regarding the incident.

A press release issued by the Air Force Command Headquarters said only that it completed a round of annual "Sea and Air Precision Ammunition Firing Exercises" early Wednesday.

Photographs released by the Air Force with the press release, showed that the live-fire drill fired an unspecified number of domestic Tien-Kung or Sky Bow III (TK III) land-based surface-to-air missiles and U.S.-imported Patriot PAC-2 missiles.

The Air Force press release added that a military evaluation committee will conduct a review on the drill results, without elaborating.