“(TAIPEI – August 12, 2025) – Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has outlined plans for a long-range, subsonic anti-ship cruise missile, a new program known locally as a “carrier killer” that aims to complicate People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) operations around the island. The project appears in a procurement list issued under Taiwan’s Defense Industry Development Act, with initial funding earmarked for acquiring 80 frequency-agile coaxial magnetrons between 2026 and 2027 – components associated with advanced missile seekers and upgrades to existing Hsing Feng II/III systems.
Taiwan’s Current Anti-Shipping Capabilities
Taiwan already maintains a diverse and layered portfolio of anti-ship weapons designed to target enemy ships from multiple directions and ranges, which is part of the PLAN’s defensive planning. Complicated.
Major systems in service include:
- Hsing Feng III (HF-3): A supersonic anti-ship missile capable of high-G terminal maneuvers for sea skimming and obstacle avoidance.
- HF-3 Extended Range (HF-3ER): **A land-based variant revealed during the *Han Kuang 41* exercise, reported to have a range of ~400 km.
- Hsing Feng II (HF-2): Subsonic, medium-range missile deployed on both ships and mobile coastal batteries.
- Air-launched HF-3: Currently under development for Taiwan’s Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF), with an added airborne strike axis.
- Tuo Chiang-class stealth corvettes: Coastal ambush and saturation strike Optimized for high-speed missile craft.
- Shore-based Missile Battery: Road-mobile launchers for HF-2 and HF-3 missiles, capable of rapid dispersal.
- Integrated Targeting Network: Combining coastal radar, UAV surveillance, and maritime patrol assets to provide real-time targeting data.
This arsenal enables the design of a multi-axis, saturation attack profile. The plan is to suppress carrier groups, destroyer screens, and amphibious task forces off the coast of Taiwan before they approach.
- Road-mobile Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) Hsiung Fang III during a live-fire exercise (HF-3) Supersonic anti-ship cruise missile launched. Developed by Taiwan’s National Chung-shan Institute of Science and Technology, the HF-3 is capable of sea-skimming flight and high-G terminal maneuvers, making it a key component of Taiwan’s layered coastal defense strategy. (Li Dewai/Wikimedia)
How the new missile fits into the layered strategy
The proposed subsonic missile is expected to offer extended range, low radar signature, and potentially lower production cost compared to supersonic systems, making it suitable for large-scale deployment. Although slower than the HF-3, its lower detectability and longer endurance would allow it to be launched from outside the protective cover of PLAN warships.
In a large-scale attack scenario, the HF-3 and HF-3ER missiles could operate in conjunction with salvos – Combining the stealthy, low-altitude approach of subsonic weapons with the speed and terminal maneuverability of supersonic platforms, they saturate and confuse enemy air defense systems.
Why Now: The Race for Range and Resilience
The announcement comes amid increasing Chinese naval activity and an expanding PLAN fleet, including more frequent carrier deployments near Taiwan. U.S. and allied defense planners have repeatedly warned that the PLA’s growing arsenal of long-range strike systems could challenge Taiwan’s ability to defend itself unless it makes its own strike capabilities dispersed, hardened, and diversified.
Recent months have seen:
- Public deployment of HF-3ER units during major exercises.
- Expanded Coastal Missile Battery Exercises.
- UAV and Increasing integration of radar targeting.
The new missile program demonstrates Taiwan’s intention to confront any PLAN surface group approaching its waters with a layered, multi-domain kill chain.
- The People’s Liberation Army Navy’s aircraft carrier Liaoning (CV-16) is underway during operations in the Western Pacific. As China’s first operational carrier, the Liaoning plays a key role in PLAN power projection and will likely serve as an integral element in any large-scale operation against Taiwan, providing air cover, strike capability, and a mobile command platform. (Japanese MoD)
Unknown and Speculation
Taiwan The missile did not disclose specific range, warhead type, or propulsion system. However, the purchase of a frequency-agile magnetron suggests an advanced radar seeker with better resistance to jamming. Analysts speculate that the design may be a derivative of the Husang Feng IIE cruise missile, which has been optimized for maritime targeting.
Possible deployment options include:
- Road-mobile coastal batteries.
- Integration on corvettes or frigates.
- Air-launched variants from the IDF or upgraded F-16 fighters.
Opportunities and Threats
Subsonic missiles with stealth features:
- Would be cheaper to mass produce and easier to field in large numbers.
- Would have increased dispersal capability.
- Would take advantage of sea-skimming profiles to reduce the detection window.
However, subsonic missiles remain more vulnerable to interception if detected, requiring coordinated salvos, electronic warfare support, and well-timed multi-axis attacks to maximize penetration.
Regional Context
This move aligns with a broader regional trend toward distributed coastal anti-ship capabilities. The United States has deployed Naval Strike Missiles in the Philippines, Japan has invested in extended-range anti-ship missiles, and Australia is acquiring similar capabilities under its defense modernization plans.
Taiwan’s new missile will first reinforce the northern part of the island chain, adding indigenous strike depth to allied maritime deterrence networks.
What to Watch Next
- Prototype rollouts and public testing.
- Basing and dispersal patterns for coastal batteries.
- Integration with UAVs and over-the-horizon radar for targeting.
- Production scaling and supply chain security measures.
- A Republic of China Air Force F-16V Viper is armed with an AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile during a patrol mission. The Harpoon, a subsonic cruise missile, extends Taiwan’s maritime strike range and is a key component of its deterrence strategy against potential naval threats. In addition to air-launched variants, Taiwan has acquired land-based Harpoon systems to bolster coastal defenses. (RoCAF)
In Conclusion
Taiwan’s planned long-range subsonic anti-ship missile is not intended to replace its current “carrier killer” systems, but to complement them in a mass-and-mix strategy. By integrating a more stealthy, more affordable cruise missile into its existing arsenal, Taiwan would increase the complexity and cost of any PLAN naval operations in the Taiwan Strait – buying critical time and space in the event of a conflict.
FAQs
Taiwan is under increasing pressure from China’s growing naval presence, especially its aircraft carriers, which are approaching the island. By developing this new missile, Taiwan wants to increase its defense options and make it difficult for the Chinese navy to operate freely in the region. The move also ties in with a global trend where countries like Japan, the Philippines, and Australia are investing in long-range coastal defense missiles.
The HF-3 is fast and powerful, but it is expensive and easy for the enemy to detect. The new missile is slower (subsonic) but more stealthy, cheaper to build, and easier to deploy in large numbers. Together, they create a “mix-and-match” strategy — where speed, stealth, and massed attacks work together to confuse and overwhelm enemy defenses.
Yes. Like the US Naval Strike Missile recently deployed in the Philippines, Taiwan’s upcoming system focuses on stealth, sea-skimming flight, and cost-effective mass production. These features make such missiles difficult to detect and allow smaller countries to build strong defenses against larger naval forces.
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