Taiwan unveils Strong Bow anti-ballistic missile specs in push for US$1.13 billion funding

Taiwan’s top weapons developer has unveiled details of its Chiang Kung, or Strong Bow, anti-ballistic missile system as it seeks legislative funding for mass production to strengthen the island’s air defences amid growing pressure from Beijing.

The government-funded National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) recently disclosed key specifications of the locally developed system, including its hypersonic speed, two-stage solid-fuel propulsion, guidance system and active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.

The disclosure comes as the government prepares another attempt to secure funding after the system was excluded from a pared-back special defence spending package approved by the opposition-controlled legislature in May.

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The defence ministry plans to resubmit Strong Bow and other programmes through a supplementary budget, which the cabinet could consider as early as Thursday before sending it to lawmakers.

The ministry has proposed spending NT$36.1 billion (US$1.13 billion) to produce two Strong Bow systems and 128 interceptor missiles.

Strong Bow, also known as Tien Kung (Sky Bow) IV, is a land-based mid-tier anti-tactical ballistic missile system designed to intercept incoming missiles at altitudes of at least 70km (43 miles) – higher than Taiwan’s existing Patriot and Tien Kung III systems.

According to NCSIST, the vertically launched missile can reach hypersonic speeds and uses a two-stage solid-fuel rocket motor. It relies on inertial guidance and radar uplink corrections during midcourse flight before switching to an active seeker in the terminal phase.