Missile Command
Taiwan's military activated a new Missile Command on 01 January 2004, combining air-defense missiles from the Army and the land-based, anti-ship missiles of the Navy. The new Missile Command, based on the Army's previous missile control authority, might become an independent unit in the future, similar to the the Chinese military's second artillery corps. The combined number of missiles numbers over 2,000. Headed by a two-star army general, the Missile Command is effectively an upgrade of the army's missile control [led by a one-star general], and will operate from the army's general headquarters.
Missiles under the Command's authority include the Tien Kung-series missiles, and the Hawk and Patriot PAC-2 Plus missiles purchased from the US. The Patriot PAC-3 missile system, which the military intends to purchase, will also be assigned to the command. The army's air-defense missiles were taken over by the Missile Command when it was activated on 01 January 2004.
The Navy's land-based Hsiung Feng-series anti-ship missiles were the only weapons system that the command will take over from the other services. These missiles were previously under Navy control. The command was expected to encounter some problems absorbing the anti-ship missiles from the Navy's control, since the navy had been reluctant to turn over all its missiles to the command. The navy's anti-ship missiles changed hands on 01 July 2004. Taiwn's Navy deploys several batteries of Hsiung Feng II surface-to-surface missiles for coastal defense on Quemoy, Matsu, Tung-Ying, Wu-Chiu and Chu-Kwang islands.
As a result of objections from the Air Force, ROCAF missile systems such as the land-based Sparrow air-defense missile were not transfered to the new command. The Air Force [and Navy] had doubted whether the Army had the ability to command and control their missile systems, considering that the army is the weakest of the three services in command and control infrastructure.
On October 3, 2008 the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Taiwan of 330 PATRIOT Advanced Capability (PAC-3) missiles, as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $3.1 billion. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States had requested a possible sale of 330 PATRIOT Advanced Capability (PAC-3) missiles, 4 AN/MPQ-65 Radar Sets, 2 Tactical Command Stations, 2 Information and Coordination Centrals, 6 Communication Replay Groups, 4 Engagement Control Stations, 24 Launching Stations, 12 Antenna Mast Groups, 282 Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) (115 AN/VRC-88E, 96 AN/VRC-90E, 13 AN/VRC-91E, and 58 AN/VRC-92E), 9 Electronic Power Plant III (EPP), 50 Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems (MIDS), battery and battalion maintenance equipment, prime movers, generators, electrical power units, personnel training and equipment, trailers, communication equipment, tool and test sets, spare and repair parts, publications, supply support Quality Assurance Team support services, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics services, technical documentation, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $3.1 billion.
