DEFENSIVE SHIELD:
An official stated the Tien Kung III’s high interception top is about 45km, however a missile engineer stated it will want to achieve 150km to cease China’s missiles
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By Lo Tien-pin
and Jonathan Chin / Employees reporter, with employees author
The Hsiung Feng III missile challenge’s former chief engineer, Chang Cheng (張誠), has stated that the army wants to increase the altitude of the Tien Kung III air-defense missile to successfully counter any threats from China.
In response to the rising army menace from China, the Ministry of Nationwide Protection has taken steps to extend missile manufacturing, elevating manufacturing of the Tien Kung III missile from 48 items to 96 items per 12 months, a protection official talking on situation of anonymity stated yesterday.
China’s live-fire missile drills earlier this month confirmed that the Tien Kung III air-defense missile can’t attain the altitude essential to intercept some Chinese language strikes, Chang wrote on Fb on Tuesday.
Photograph: CNA
The Chinese language Individuals’s Liberation Army (PLA) fired 4 Dongfeng-17 ballistic missiles into strategically key waters off jap Taiwan the place Taiwanese warships shelter and US forces would journey to counter a Chinese language invasion, Chang stated.
The missiles possible flew over Taiwan correct at an altitude of about 100km, the peak they need to attain when touring the final one-third of their efficient vary, whereas the extended-range Tien Kung III has a service ceiling of 70km, he stated.
This implies the nation’s premier air protection missile is incapable of capturing down Chinese language ballistic missiles, he stated.
“To intercept the PLA’s guided missiles at altitudes of 100km or extra, the Chungshan Institute [of Science and Technology] must create a system able to reaching 150km, just like the US’ Terminal Excessive Altitude Space Protection system,” Chang stated.
The navy and the institute ought to be a part of forces to design floor warships with a sophisticated air protection functionality, mirroring that of the US Navy’s Superior Digital Steering and Instrumentation System (AEGIS), he stated.
AEGIS-equipped ships can defend a fleet from ballistic missiles by using Customary Missile-2s and Customary Missile-6s, that are able to defeating ballistic missiles, Chang stated, including that Hai Kung III missiles, that are near being accomplished by the institute, could possibly be used on such a warship.
A vertical launch system must also be constructed in order that the theoretical warships might hearth Hsiung Sheng missiles which were designed for naval use, he stated.
The nameless protection official yesterday stated that the extended-range Tien Kung III’s most interception top might be 45km.
The missile launches seen on Thursday close to the institute’s Jioupeng Navy Base in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州) had been possible a take a look at through which two extended-range missiles had been fired at a simulated ballistic missile, the official stated.
The army plans to determine 17 launch websites for the Tien Kung III missile earlier than 2026 as a part of Taiwan’s “porcupine” protection technique, they stated, including that comparable measures are being taken for anti-ship missiles.
The porcupine technique refers to an uneven technique that goals to make a territory tough and expensive to invade, which partially includes utilizing anti-aircraft, anti-ship and anti-tank missiles towards an opposing pressure’s giant and costly weapons platforms.
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