In a strategic move to counter the increasing military threats from China, Taiwan has invested US$278 million to bolster its air defense capabilities. This investment, as reported by “Taiwan News”, an English-language online newspaper, focuses on the acquisition of advanced air defense missile systems, including 30 TC-2 mobile missile launchers, six combat control centers, six phased-array radar systems, and 246 Sky Sword II air defense missiles.
Central to this air defense system acquisition is the TC-2 air defense system, which has been rigorously tested and refined. Initially facing challenges in meeting the Taiwanese Army’s requirements, the system was eventually approved for large-scale production after successful evaluations in July.
The TC-2 system’s land-based version, the TC-2N, features the missile in a sealed container-launcher. The system’s canister is 4 meters (13 feet) long, and the combined weight of the canister and missile is about 350 kg (770 lb). The missile is equipped with midcourse inertial guidance, a data link, terminal active radar guidance, and an electronic counter-countermeasure (ECCM) capability. However, without the booster found in its naval counterpart, the TC-2N’s effective range is limited to 15 km (9.3 mi).