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Taiwan test-fires
self-developed sub-launched missile
AFP, TAIPEI
Taiwan has test-fired for the first time a locally developed submarine-launched
missile designed to counter the threat of China¡¦s fast-expanding navy, a report
said yesterday.
An unknown number of Hsiung Feng II (HF-2, ¡§Brave Wind¡¨) ship-to-ship missiles
developed by the military-run Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology were
launched during a night drill late last month, the Liberty Times (the Taipei
Times¡¦ sister newspaper) reported.
The drill was part of the navy¡¦s five-year project to enhance the capabilities
of two Dutch-built Chienlung (¼CÀs, ¡§Sword Dragon¡¨)-class submarines acquired in
the late 1980s, it said, citing an unnamed military source.
¡§Although Taiwan has only two combat-ready submarines, once they are armed with
such missiles, they will be able to serve as a deterrent to the Chinese naval
fleets,¡¨ the source said.
The Liberty Times said the program to upgrade the submarines with the HF-2
missile was known as the ¡§Juilung¡¨ (·çÀs, ¡§auspicious dragon¡¨) project.
The navy operates a fleet of four submarines, but only the two Dutch-built boats
could be deployed in the event of war. The other two were built by the US in the
1940s and are used mainly for training.
The Ministry of Defense declined to comment on the report.
The military has also put into service land-based and air-launched HF-2s, which
have a range of 150km.
Analysts say the missile will give the two subs beyond-vision striking
capability that could be used to offset the threat of China¡¦s naval fleet, which
has undergone rapid modernization.
Additional reporting by Staff Writer
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