Taiwan has begun mass production of its short-to-medium range air defense system, the Sky Sword II.
It follows the air defense system clearing the second round of evaluation in July after failing to do so on the first attempt, according to Liberty Times.
Six systems are planned for procurement, each comprising one CS/MYS-951 battle management center, one CS/MPQ-951 radar, and four to five missile firing units, Janes wrote, citing an unnamed Taiwanese Army officer.
Each firing unit can carry up to five missiles, each costing around 20 million New Taiwan dollars ($6,37,714).
$278 Million Procurement
A total of 246 missiles are expected to be ordered as part of the 8.8-billion New Taiwan dollar ($278 million) planned procurement, Taiwan News reported.
Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology designed the land-based system to counter China’s fixed and rotary wing aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles.
Featuring a range of 15 kilometers (9.3 miles), the system will be deployed alongside the US-origin Avenger air defense system to plug Taiwan’s air defense gaps.
