Taiwan plans to deploy a land-attack cruise missile capable of striking China this year.
A total of 100 Hsiung Sheng missiles are being considered for deployment with a range of 1,200 kilometers (745 miles), Taipei Times reported, citing sources.
The extended-range version of the Hsiung Feng-IIE, the Hsiung Sheng has been in production since 2022 and was tested for the first time last year.
Could Strike Chinese Bases
Citing an unnamed Republic of China Army officer, Janes confirmed the planned deployment without the reported quantity.
It added that the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology-developed missile could strike the Chinese military’s eastern and western theater command bases.
The missile carries high-explosive and fragmentation warheads and can be used to counter-strike adversary targets such as command posts, bunkers, and airport runways.
$500 Million Procurement
The missile procurement is part of the Ministry of National Defense’s 484 billion New Taiwan dollar ($15.05 billion) “special budget” for the purchase of advanced weapons from 2022 to 2026, according to Janes.
A total of 16.9 billion New Taiwan dollars ($534.93 million) was reportedly set aside from the budget in 2022 for the procurement of 131 Hsiung Sheng missiles by 2025.