Taiwan has reportedly begun deploying U.S.-made Harpoon land-based anti-ship missile systems.
Photos and local reporting confirmed the arrival of convoy vehicles associated with the land-based Harpoon system, including missile launcher trucks, radar vehicles, and command-and-control units. The launcher vehicles are based on the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck platform, commonly known as HEMTT.
According to previously disclosed procurement plans, Taiwan ordered 100 land-based Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems from the United States, along with a total of 400 missiles. The deal was approved through U.S. foreign military sales channels and is intended to enhance Taiwan’s ability to counter surface threats approaching its coastline.
Deliveries are being conducted in phases under a schedule agreed by Taipei and Washington. Under the current timeline, 32 complete systems are to be delivered by the end of 2026, with the remaining 68 systems arriving by 2028.
The phased delivery approach begins with the shipment of training simulators, along with the deployment of U.S. instructors and technical advisers. This is followed by the delivery of mobile launchers, radar systems, and supporting equipment. The missiles themselves are delivered in a final stage, allowing Taiwanese units to complete training and integration before receiving live munitions.
The systems are expected to be operated by Taiwan’s naval coastal defense command.
The land-based Harpoon missiles acquired by Taiwan are the RGM-84L-4 Block II (U) variant, a modern version of the Harpoon anti-ship missile family. The Block II configuration is designed for improved guidance and targeting in complex littoral environments and supports engagement of moving surface targets.
There are varying public assessments of the missile’s maximum range. Boeing, the system’s manufacturer, states that the missile exceeds 67 nautical miles, or about 124 kilometers. Taiwan’s Navy has told lawmakers that the version acquired offers improved performance compared with earlier U.S. military variants, while some external estimates place the range above 148 kilometers.
The Harpoon Coastal Defense System integrates mobile launchers, sensors, and command elements into a dispersed, road-mobile architecture. This allows missile units to relocate rapidly and operate from concealed positions, a key consideration for survivability in a contested environment.
The arrival of the first Harpoon system components comes amid sustained efforts by Taiwan to modernize its defenses in response to regional security pressures. The island has focused on acquiring mobile, survivable systems designed to complicate potential amphibious or naval operations against it.
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