Taiwan’s military plans to spend NT$74.8 billion (US$2.5 billion) in the next nine years on anti-missile systems.
According to ruling Kuomintang lawmaker Lin Yu-fang on Friday, this will be the biggest procurement of domestically-made weapon systems in
recent years. Lin was citing a defense budget plan submitted to the legislature for approval on Friday.
The air defense system the military is targeting is the Tien Kung III surface-to-air missile system developed by the Changshan Institute of Science and Technology to counter tactical ballistic missiles.
Lin said the new weapons will replace aging Hawk missile systems and be deployed for air defense missions and missile interception and homeland defense combat operations.
Lin also added that the Tien Kung III will be able to strengthen Taiwan’s anti-aircraft network and close some of the gaps in its middle- and long-range air defense capabilities.