Taiwan Successfully Tests Self-Made Anti-Aircraft Missile to Defend Against Chinese Threat

Taiwanese Army successfully tested a domestically manufactured surface-to-air missile, the Land Sword II, during military maneuvers in the southern county of Pingtung amid increasing Chinese pressure in the Taiwan Strait, military sources reported this Tuesday.

The commanding officers of The Army’s 43rd and 21st Artillery conducted the first live demonstration of the Land Sword II, a derivative of the air-to-air missile family Sky Sword II also made in Taiwan, according to a statement from the Ministry of National Defense (MDN) of Taiwan.

The three missiles launched successfully hit the target drones, demonstrating the excellent interception performance of the system, as stated in the official text.

Developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) and delivered to the Army in May of last year, the Land Sword II is intended to replace the Chaparral surface-to-air missile system of American origin.

According to an MDN report cited by the local press, the original Sky Sword II system allows for 360-degree detection, tracking, threat assessment, and targeting with an effective range of up to 15 kilometers.

This system can detect enemy fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, unmanned vehicles, and cruise missiles, and can also be combined with Avenger and Stinger missiles to enhance the air defense capabilities of the Taiwanese Army.

Taiwan, autonomously governed since 1949, has bolstered its military capabilities in response to increasing threats from China, which views the island as a rebellious province.

The Government of Democratic Progressive Party (PDP) of Taiwan, perceived as “independent” by Beijing, has allocated a record national defense budget of 600.7 billion Taiwan dollars (18,489 million dollars, 17,419 million euros) for this year.

In a recent incident, 11 Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, with some entering Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, prompting Taiwan to deploy combat air patrol aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile defense systems.

With the evolving security situation and threat from China, Taiwan has ceased identifying the types of PLA aircraft detected in its ADIZ to prevent potential cognitive warfare campaigns by China against the Taiwanese public.