On August 17, 2025, Taiwan News reported that Taiwan will produce 232 additional anti-ship missile systems to strengthen its maritime defense capabilities by next year. This new batch, also confirmed by the Liberty Times, will include Hsiung Feng II, Hsiung Feng III, and an extended-range variant of the HF-3.
The program, valued at NT$16.1 billion (approximately US$536 million), also includes the integration of modernized electronic components. These new chips are expected to improve the missiles’ lethality and increase their resistance to enemy countermeasures.
The Hsiung Feng II has a standard range of 148 kilometers, with an improved version capable of reaching between 160 and 200 kilometers. In terms of electronic countermeasures, it is considered comparable to Western-made anti-ship missiles. The Hsiung Feng III, often described as a “carrier killer” due to its supersonic terminal speed, has a range between 150 and 250 kilometers. Its first series became operational in 2014 and has since remained a core element of Taiwan’s naval deterrence.
The Hsiung Feng III (HF-3), also known as Brave Wind III, is Taiwan’s first supersonic missile. Originating from a program launched in 1994, it was developed in response to the growing size of China’s fleet and the continued improvement of its shipborne air defense systems. Designed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), the missile underwent its first test launch in 1997 before being publicly unveiled at Taiwan’s National Day military parade in 2007. It entered service in 2011 and has since become the centerpiece of Taiwan’s anti-ship strike capability.
Technically, the HF-3 measures 5.1 meters in length, has a diameter of 0.38 meters, and a launch weight of around 660 kilograms. It is powered by a solid-fuel booster and a liquid-fueled ramjet, enabling speeds between Mach 2 and Mach 2.5. The missile carries a semi-armor piercing high-explosive fragmentation warhead estimated between 120 and 225 kilograms. It is equipped with a smart fuze designed to detonate downward once inside a ship’s hull, maximizing internal damage. Guidance is provided by an inertial navigation system with terminal active radar homing, making the missile capable of penetrating modern air defense systems.
Development of the HF-3 also produced an extended-range variant, the HF-3ER. Tested from 2017 onward, it increased the missile’s range from 150 kilometers to nearly 400 kilometers, enhancing Taiwan’s strategic depth across the strait. These variants have been deployed on several classes of ships, including the Cheng Kung-class frigates, Tuo Chiang-class corvettes, and Jin Chiang-class missile boats. The extended-range version is also planned for Keelung-class destroyers and coastal-based batteries.
The missile’s operational history has not been without incidents. On July 1, 2016, an HF-3 was accidentally launched from a Taiwanese navy vessel during an exercise, striking a civilian fishing boat. The warhead did not detonate thanks to its fuze mechanism, but the accident caused one fatality and three injuries, highlighting the risks of operating such systems in real environments.
Alongside the new production order, NCSIST is also testing an air-launched version of the HF-3. In recent months, images have shown the F-CK-1 Ching-kuo fighter equipped with prototype missiles adapted for aerial deployment. To meet payload requirements, the missile has been lightened and reduced in size, weighing between 900 and 1,000 kilograms compared to 1,400 kilograms for the ground-based version. Since June 2025, the program has included aerodynamic validation flights, drop tests over the Taichung coast, and trials at Chihhang Air Base, in preparation for a live-fire phase during the second half of the year.
The combination of large-scale HF-3 production and the development of an air-launched version demonstrates Taipei’s intention to expand its tactical options against China’s naval forces. Supersonic cruise missiles complicate the operations of any fleet seeking to establish a blockade or conduct amphibious landings in the strait. An air-launched variant would provide the air force with additional flexibility, enabling strikes against surface vessels at range while simultaneously conducting air defense or patrol missions.
This initiative forms part of Taiwan’s broader military modernization, which also includes efforts in electronic warfare. Pods developed for the F-CK-1 are currently undergoing testing to provide the aircraft with new radar jamming and detection capabilities. Funded since 2020 with an allocation of approximately US$135 million, these systems are intended to give Taiwan’s air force independent protection tools in a context where access to certain foreign technologies remains limited.
By expanding its arsenal and diversifying its launch platforms, Taiwan is seeking to reinforce a deterrence strategy based on layered defense and the saturation of adversary defenses. The 232 new Hsiung Feng missiles expected by 2026 will add to an already substantial stockpile, underscoring Taipei’s determination to maintain a credible maritime balance of power with Beijing in a region marked by persistent tensions.
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