Taipei, Dec. 3 (CNA) Taiwan has successfully developed advanced a supersonic anti-ship missile which is said to be superior to the Sunburn missiles that mainland China have acquired from Russia.
Researchers at the Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology said Sunday that they have conducted several test fires of the Hsiungfeng-3 missiles, and mass production will begin as soon as the government gives the green light.
The Hsingfeng-3 anti-ship missile is yet another breakthrough for Taiwan in its development of missiles, which has also seen the development of the Tienkung (Sky Bow)-2 surface-to-air missile, the researchers said.
Beijing earlier this year purchased two Sovremenny-class destroyers to be equipped with the Russia-made Sunburn anti-ship missiles.
The turbine-propelled Sunburn missile, with its 300-kg. war head, has a maximum speed of Mach 2.34 and a range of up to 150 kms. With its high accuracy and speed, only 1.2 Sunburn missiles are capable of sinking a destroyer, while five missiles could totally destroy a 20,000-ton supply ship. The high-tech weapons pose a serious threat to Western nations' anti-missile defense.
The researchers said that the Hsingfeng-3 missile outperforms the Sunburn in terms of its speed and range, but they would not elaborate.
They said that additionally, the institute has made breakthroughs in missile guidance, control and propulsion. (By Bear Lee)
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