Taipei: Taiwan’s enhanced version of the Tien Kung III surface-to-air missile system has entered mass production, the head of the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) confirmed Wednesday.
According to Focus Taiwan, NCSIST President Li Shih-chiang shared this development during a pre-opening press event for the Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition 2025 (TADTE). The decision to publicly display the system signifies its transition into mass production. This exhibition marks the first time the missile, its launcher, and the associated radar have been shown to the public.
Li emphasized that Taiwan’s air defense strategy relies on an integrated system rather than a single weapon. The enhanced version of the Tien Kung III, part of NCSIST’s Strong Bow program, is engineered to intercept high-altitude cruise and ballistic missiles at a maximum altitude of 70 kilometers. Other air defense missiles will remain active to neutralize threats at lower altitudes.
Lu Chien-sheng, deputy head of the Sky Bow program, explained that the enhanced Tien Kung III serves as a ground-based midcourse defense system designed to counter Chinese tactical ballistic missiles. It is Taiwan’s first domestically produced surface-to-air system featuring an active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control system, enhancing accuracy, situational awareness, and the capacity to track and engage multiple targets simultaneously.
Lu noted that the missile will function alongside other ground-based defense systems, such as the existing Tien Kung III and the United States-made Patriot PAC-3. These systems will work in concert to intercept missile threats at varying altitudes, establishing a comprehensive defense network for Taiwan.
The TADTE is scheduled to take place from Thursday through Saturday at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, with participation from the Ministry of National Defense’s Armaments Bureau and the NCSIST.
