Taiwan Missile Overview

This page is part of Taiwan’s Profile.

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Taiwan, also known as the Republic of China (ROC), develops and deploys advanced ballistic and cruise missile technologies, and is largely dependent on the United States for ballistic missile defense systems.

Taiwanese companies have historically been involved in illicit exports and transshipments of dual-use items to Iran and North Korea. ¹ Today, Taiwan’s export control system encompasses adherence to the MTCR Annex and relevant guidelines for granting export permits. ² Due to its contested political status Taiwan cannot formally participate in the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) or other multilateral nonproliferation agreements.

While many of Taiwan’s missile programs and capabilities remain secret, four overarching issues illustrate the program’s strategic rationale. First, Taiwan’s objectives are to deter and delay potential invasion by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which retains its claims to the island and has not renounced the possible use of force to resolve the issue. Taiwan’s “deterrence equation” takes into account how long it would take the PRC to overcome Taiwanese air defenses, the losses the PRC would incur in achieving that goal, and how long it would take for the United States to come to Taiwan’s defense. ³ Second, historically Taiwan’s missile programs benefitted from U.S. and Israeli designs and technology, but since rapprochement between the United States and the PRC, Taiwan has become more independent in its missile design and manufacture. Third, as U.S. arms sales to Taiwan have become more controversial in U.S.-PRC relations and in Taiwanese politics (namely budget debates), the United States has increasingly emphasized sales of ballistic missile defense (BMD) systems instead of offensive weaponry. Finally, the United States has successfully pressured Taiwan to halt the development of medium- and long-range missiles capable of delivering WMD. As Taiwan’s qualitative advantage in fighter aircraft decreases, Taiwan is reviving longer-range cruise missile programs to improve its deterrence capabilities.

Taiwan deploys some short-range ballistic missiles and a growing number of cruise missiles. Taiwan’s former minister of national defense, Tsai Ming-hsien, reported Taiwan has been developing intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBM) since 2008. ⁴ According to the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense (MND), Taiwan currently possesses the Tien-Chien I and II missile systems. ⁵ In addition to IRBMs, Taiwan developed anti-ship missiles including the Hsiung Feng-I, -II, and -III. ⁶ The capability to deny air superiority to an invading force is also a priority, for which Taiwan has invested heavily in surface-to-air missiles, including the Tien Kung series.

Missile Tables for Taiwan

• Design Characteristics of Taiwan’s Ballistic & Cruise Missiles

The Taiwanese military is currently increasing and upgrading its ballistic missile defense capabilities, and by 2015 will have 10 batteries capable of firing either Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC)-2/GEM or PAC-3 missiles, with 32 PAC/GEMS or up to 128 PAC-3s per battery. ⁷ Currently, Taiwan is beginning production of the Yun Feng, a mid-range missile with a range of 1,200 km that could eventually be extended to approximately 2,000 km. ⁸

1964 to 1996

Shortly after the PRC’s first successful nuclear test in 1964, Taiwan’s President Chiang Kai-shek ordered the establishment of the Chung-shan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST). ⁹ Completed in 1968, CSIST’s mission is the development and production of defense technologies, including missiles. ¹⁰

In 1969, the Nixon Doctrine underlined the concept of allies bearing more responsibility for their own defense, and in 1972 the Shanghai Communiqué signaled rapprochement between the United States and the PRC. ¹¹ After becoming Premier in 1972, Chiang Ching-kuo altered Taiwan’s military procurement emphasis in response to this changing security environment. ¹² Following China’s successful satellite launches, in 1976, CSIST began the Qingfeng Jihua (Green Peak Program) for short-range missiles, completing plans for the Qingfeng missile in 1979, and debuting the missile in a 1981 military parade. ¹³ Jane’s Strategic Weapon Systems notes the design similarities between the Qingfeng missile and the U.S. MGM-52 Lance missile, as well as potential connections to Israel’s Gabriel 2 technology. ¹⁴ Around the same time, Taiwan began developing its Hsiung Feng missile based on Israel’s Gabriel technology. On 4 October 1978, the Taiwanese military publicly claimed it had successfully tested the Hsiung Feng missile, subsequently displaying the system in Taiwan’s National Day Parade on 10 October. ¹⁵

In the 1980s, Taiwan was concerned that the PRC would obstruct U.S. sales of advanced weapons systems, and thus began to develop indigenous production capabilities for such systems. ¹⁶ The United States shifted diplomatic relations to the PRC in 1979, terminated the U.S.-ROC Mutual Defense Treaty in 1980, and pledged to “reduce gradually” its arms sales to Taiwan in the 1982 Shanghai Communiqué. ¹⁷ Taiwan also began work on the Tien Chien air-to-air missile in conjunction with its Indigenous Defense Fighter program. ¹⁸

In the 1980s Taiwan also began research on the Tien Ma missile as a delivery vehicle for the nuclear weapon it was developing clandestinely. The Tien Kung missile was supposed to be the first step towards developing a missile capable of carrying a larger payload. ¹⁹ Ultimately, in June 1982 the United States successfully pressured Taiwan into cancelling the Tien Ma program. ²⁰

1996 to the Present

Taiwan’s defense procurement priorities changed drastically after the 1995-1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, which culminated in the PRC launching missiles near Taiwanese ports and the United States deploying two carrier battle groups to the region. ²¹ After the crisis, Taiwanese politicians, including Chen Shui-bian (who became president from 2000 to 2008), advocated an “active defense” strategy that could counter China’s missile capabilities, and target assets on the mainland and in transit through the Taiwan Strait. ²²

Taiwan received its first Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC)-2 systems (including missiles, mobile launchers, and multifunctional radar) in 1997, and deployed them around Taipei. ²³ Upgrades to the PAC-3 system began in 2001. ²⁴ In August 2009, the Taiwanese government agreed to the procurement of four PAC-3 systems in a deal worth U.S. $3.2 billion, including 264 PAC-3 missiles from Lockheed Martin, in addition to an existing U.S. $600 million contract with Raytheon to upgrade its three PAC-2 operational fire units to the PAC-3 standard system. ²⁵

Taiwan also placed increased emphasis on its indigenous short- and mid-range missile programs. Before leaving office in 2000, Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui allegedly restarted the Tien Ma program (cancelled in 1982). ²⁶ In June 2000, Chen Shui-bian put forth an “offshore full-scale engagement policy,” an active defense strategy including “surgical strikes” by “defense deterrent weapons systems.” ²⁷ Under President Chen, CSIST developed weapons systems that increased Taiwan’s power projection capabilities across the Strait, including Wan Chien cluster munitions, the Tien Chien IIA anti-radiation missile, and the Hsiung Feng III high-speed anti-ship missile. ²⁸ In December 2012, Taiwan’s Next Magazine reported on the secret development of the Yun Feng (Cloud Peak) missile, which utilizes a solid jet booster and ramjet engine, and with an estimated range of 1,200 km is capable of reaching Shanghai. ²⁹

Taiwan’s development of longer-range missiles is controversial, with many U.S. officials and scholars arguing that these capabilities are destabilizing. In 2007, National Security Council Senior Asian Director Dennis Wilder stated that “offensive capabilities on either side of the Strait are destabilizing,” and that Taiwan should emphasize defensive capabilities. ³⁰ Emphasizing these systems’ deterrent effect could lead to “neglecting genuine defense requirements, as well as instilling a false sense of confidence in [Taiwan’s] political leadership,” according to retired Admiral Michael McDevitt. ³¹ Although long-range missiles would be less vulnerable than Taiwan’s aircraft, demands for sufficient intelligence and U.S. concerns may affect Taiwan’s future decisions. ³²

At an organizational level, Taiwan is in the process of consolidating its different missile command structures. In 2004, Taiwan established Missile Command (飛彈指揮部) to integrate anti-ballistic and air-defense systems, with eventual integration of offensive missile systems planned. ³³ Systems under its control include the Hawk, the Tien-kung, the Patriot, and the Hsiung Feng missile systems. ³⁴ Taiwan procures the Patriot and Hawk air-defense missile systems from the United States; Taiwan is developing the Tien Kung and Hsiung Feng systems indigenously. ³⁵ According to a MND source, Taiwan will begin retiring the Hawk system in 2015 with the development of the new Tien Kung III system. ³⁶ One Taiwanese official indicated in January 2013 that Missile Command’s 601 Group handles “offensive missile systems,” including the Hsiung Feng 2E. ³⁷ The Yun Feng missile, once in production, will also reportedly be placed under Missile Command. ³⁸ Missile Command is subordinate to the Chief of the General Staff, who answers to the Minister of National Defense. ³⁹

According to the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense (MND), Taiwan currently possesses the Tien-Chien I and II missile systems. ⁴⁰ In addition to IRBMs, Taiwan developed anti-ship missiles including the Hsiung Feng-I, -II, and -III. ⁴¹ The capability to deny air superiority to an invading force is also a priority, for which Taiwan has invested heavily in surface-to-air missiles, including the Tien Kung series.

Taiwan’s deployment of the Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missile, the Hsiung Feng IIE land-attack cruise missile, and its development of the Yun Feng received considerable international scrutiny. In August 2011, the Taiwanese military displayed a model of its Hsiung-Feng III anti-ship missile, with a backdrop of a burning aircraft carrier resembling the PRC’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, which had embarked on its maiden voyage earlier that same day. ⁴² The Hsiung Feng IIE became controversial after bloggers in the PRC discovered that Taiwan was deploying the missile in army vehicles described as commercial delivery service trucks. A Taiwanese military official described the decision as “idiotic” and “embarrassing.” ⁴³ The missile has an estimated range of 1,000 km and carries a 200 kg payload, and as of July 2012 approximately 300 were deployed in northern Taiwan. ⁴⁴

Taiwan’s Yun Feng missile was first revealed to the international community with Next Magazine’s December 2012 article. The missile’s development reportedly required ten years and over 800 million New Taiwan Dollars (~$27 million USD at the time), and Taiwan concealed its flight tests within the Hsiung Feng III test program. ⁴⁵ Production of the missile may begin as soon as 2014, and if Taiwan extends the missile’s range from 1,200 km to 2,000 km Beijing would be within the missile’s range. ⁴⁶ The exact status of the Yun Feng became a source of some controversy in Taiwan after former defense minister Michael Tsai published a book in which he claimed that the country had successfully completed the missile, and had test fired it at a military base in southern Taiwan in February 2008. ⁴⁷ Shortly after the book’s publication, a media report citing anonymous military officials claimed that 50 of the missiles would be produced by the following year, to be deployed in the mountains in central Taiwan and aimed at military installations on China’s southeastern coast. ⁴⁸ Other military analysts in the region have disputed this claim, arguing that the Yun Feng is a long-range anti-ship missile intended for use against invasion fleets. ⁴⁹ According to Next Magazine’s article, Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou sees the missiles as effective bargaining chips in any future cross-Strait negotiations. ⁵⁰

In December 2013, the United States began its delivery of Harpoon anti-ship missiles to Taiwan. ⁵¹ The delivery is a part of a US$195.48M arms deal between the United States and Taiwan that began in 2008 and will conclude in 2016.

In early 2014, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense (MND) announced its acquisition of “36 submarine-launched Harpoon Block II anti-ship cruise missiles…32 UGM­84L encapsulated all­up rounds, two UTM­84L exercise missiles, two UTM­84XD certification and training weapons, and two weapon control systems,” according to Jane’s Navy International. ⁵² This new acquisition is expected to significantly increase the capabilities of the Republic of China Navy’s two diesel-electric submarines, extending the striking range of the submarines from 15 nautical miles (as equipped with SUT torpedoes) to a maximum range of 150 nautical miles when equipped with the UGM-84L missiles. ⁵³

In January 2014, Taiwan’s Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF) showcased 71 upgraded Ching-Kuo Indigenous Defense Fighters (IDF/F­CK­-1) at the Tainan air base. ⁵⁴ The upgrade equipped the Fighters with enhanced capabilities, including the ability to carry Wan Chien (Ten Thousand Swords) stand-off air-to-surface missiles. ⁵⁵ The Wan Chien missile system will bolster IDF fleet by “increase[ing] combat effectiveness and [providing] the capability to strike airports, harbours, and missile and radar positions as well as concentrated targets without exposing the aircraft to anti­aircraft fire.” ⁵⁶ The fighters are expected to be capable of carrying the Wan Chien missile system by early 2017. ⁵⁷

Taiwan is now developing the Tien Kung III surface-to-air missile system, reportedly capable of intercepting short-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and fighter jets. Development is scheduled to last until 2024. ⁵⁸

During the August 2015 Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition Taipei exhibited two defense missile systems: the Sea Oryx short-range air defense missile system, which is able to carry up to 16 variant Tien Chien-1 missiles; and the TC-2N medium-range air defense missile system, which is able to fire Tien Chien-2 missiles. ⁵⁹ Also at the Exhibition, officials of the Republic of China Navy presented information about the Tuo Jiang stealth corvette ship, the largest missile-equipped ship in the Taiwanese fleet, which is equipped with 16 anti-ship missiles, including Hsiung Feng II and III. Taiwan may build as many as eleven of these vessels in the near future. ⁶⁰