Taiwan Unveils Chiang Kung Missile Defense System

Taiwan unveiled its new Chiang Kung missile defense system on September 17, marking the entry of an indigenously developed shield against regional missile threats.

The system is already in production, according to the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST).

NCSIST released test footage showing a two-stage interceptor guided first by a locally produced active phased array antenna (AESA) radar, then by a built-in millimeter-wave radar in the final phase. The second stage features a composite design with thrust vectoring, though details of the warhead remain undisclosed.

Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) reported that the interceptor is capable of engaging tactical ballistic missiles at medium altitudes, with an interception ceiling of up to 70 km. NCSIST Director Lee Shi-chang compared the altitude range to the U.S.-made THAAD system, which operates above 50 km.

Development is also underway on the Chiang Kung II, which includes two versions: the Chiang Kung IIA, designed for missile interception with a range of up to 100 km, and the Chiang Kung IIB, a surface-to-surface missile reportedly capable of striking targets up to 1,000 km away, according to the Taipei Times.