In recent decades, Taiwan’s research and development institutes have succeeded in providing the Taiwanese Armed Forces with a wide array of anti-ship, anti-aircraft, and land-attack missile systems. The ever-present threat of a large-scale invasion of the island by China’s People’s Liberation Army is one of the driving forces behind these developments. However, far from being satisfied with these capabilities, these organizations are actively engaged in the research and development of new technologies. Recent reports highlight the development of a new family of supersonic and hypersonic cruise missiles, officially designated as “Qingtian.”
As with many missile systems currently in service with Taiwan’s Armed Forces, this new missile family is being developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST). This institute is responsible for the research that led to the adoption of the Hsiung Feng (I, II, and III) anti-ship missiles, Sky Bow and Sky Sword I and II anti-aircraft missiles (with the latter currently under development), and the Yun Feng land-attack missile, among other examples.
According to local media reports, the next step is to provide Taiwan’s military forces with a new hypersonic missile system, officially named “Qingtian.” One of the objectives for the missile’s capabilities is to achieve an operational range of 1,200 to 2,000 kilometers, with the aim of surpassing 2,000 kilometers in a subsequent development phase.
To achieve this, it has been reported that the NCSIST is currently developing an initial supersonic version of the Qingtian within the aforementioned operational range. This version would provide Taiwan’s forces with an operational system, paving the way for the development of a hypersonic variant. According to the reports, the hypersonic version is expected to be deployed from mobile launchers mounted on military trucks.
This approach is significant as it aligns with trends being adopted for the operational deployment of these new hypersonic capabilities. As such, wheeled platforms are being considered to equip the launch system. Among the options under evaluation are 12×12 trucks manufactured by Tatra, as well as vehicles from the U.S.-based Oshkosh Defense, such as the M983.
Finally, reports issued by the Ministry of Defense’s Armament Department have outlined various timelines for achieving these capabilities. For instance, projects like the “Study on Stabilization Characteristics in Supersonic Combustion Chambers and Ultra-High-Temperature Resistant Ceramic Materials” by NCSIST aim to develop materials resistant to high temperatures and extreme heat. Additionally, efforts are being made to improve current ramjet propulsion systems and combustion technology to enhance the efficiency of missile propulsion systems.
Cover photo used for illustrative purposes only.
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