Taiwan plans to produce more than 1,200 Hai Chien II (Sea Sword II) missiles to increase the lethality of its naval fleet, as the military moves to standardize weapons across its surface combatants.
The missile recently completed a live-fire test off southern Taiwan as part of the move, successfully engaging a simulated drone threat.
Once distributed, the capability will serve as the Republic of China Navy’s primary medium-range air defense system, replacing legacy warheads with limited reach, according to local media.
Up to 1,376 Missiles Anticipated
Sources verified that at least 688 missiles are required to equip ships currently in service or under development, including the upgraded Kang Ding-class and other next-generation frigates, Tuo Chiang-class corvettes, and the Yushan-class amphibious transport dock.
Additional stockpiles would raise total demand to between 1,200 and 1,376 missiles to sustain combat operations.
“The navy leans toward the higher end of the estimate, because the [People’s Liberation Army] is highly likely to carry out saturation strikes on Taiwanese ships,” Taipei Times quoted a senior logistics officer as saying.
The Sea Sword II
The Sea Sword II integrates with Taiwan’s domestically developed vertical launch system, enabling 360-degree air defense coverage.
It weighs approximately 183 kilograms (403 pounds), has a range of about 50 kilometers (31 miles), and travels at Mach 4 (6,174 kilometers/3,836 miles per hour).
Taiwanese reports noted that the Kang Ding-class frigates will carry up to 32 Sea Sword IIs each, replacing their aging M48 Chaparral surface-to-air systems, while the new light frigates will deploy variants optimized for air defense or anti-submarine warfare.
Meanwhile, 16 missiles will be carried by Tuo Chiang-class vessels, excluding the lead hull of the series built with an experimental architecture, to support “wolf pack” tactics with mobile strike and defense capabilities.
Similar to the frigates, the Yushan will also have 32 Sea Sword IIs, all to be fired from four missile launchers.
