Artillery Commands 43 and 21 of the Army were responsible for conducting the first live demonstration of the Land Sword II.
The Taiwanese Army successfully tested a domestically manufactured surface-to-air missile, the Land Sword II, during military maneuvers in the southern Pingtung County, amid increasing Chinese pressure in the Taiwan Strait, military sources reported on Tuesday.
Artillery Commands 43 and 21 of the Army were responsible for conducting the first live demonstration of the Land Sword II, a derivative of the Sky Sword II air-to-air missile family, also made in Taiwan, according to a statement from Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND).
The three missiles launched “successfully hit” the target drones, demonstrating the “excellent interception performance of the system,” the official statement noted.
Developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) and delivered to the Army in May last year, the Land Sword II is intended to replace the US-origin Chaparral surface-to-air missile system.
According to an MND report cited by local press, the original Sky Sword II system allows for detection, tracking, threat evaluation, and target assignment in 360 degrees, with an effective range of up to 15 kilometers.
This system can detect enemy fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, unmanned vehicles, and cruise missiles, and can also be integrated with Avenger and Stinger missiles to enhance the air defense capabilities of the Taiwanese Army.
Taiwan, autonomously governed since 1949, has increased its military capabilities in recent years in response to pressure from China, which considers the island a rebellious province.
