Independent Working Group Report: Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century. »»
February 11, 2012
IWG Report 2009
Independent Working Group Report: Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century. »»
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Hsiung Feng 2
| Country: | Taiwan |
|---|---|
| Alternate Name: | HF-2, Male Bee 2 |
| Class: | S/ASM |
| Target: | Ship |
| Length: | 4.60 m |
| Diameter: | 0.34 m |
| Wingspan: | 0.9 m |
| Launch Weight: | 685.00 kg |
| Payload: | 225 kg HE SAP |
| Propulsion: | Turbojet w/ solid booster |
| Range: | 80.00 km |
| Guidance: | INS, active radar, IIR |
| Status: | Operational |
| In Service: | 1990 |
Details
The Hsiung Feng 2 is a short-range, turbojet powered, single warhead, surface-to-surface and air-to-surface cruise missile developed and manufactured by Taiwan. Ship-, air-, and ground-launched versions exist. The missile gives Taiwan a counter-strike capability against Chinese naval bases at Shantou, Xiamen, Sandu, and Xiazhen.
The Hsiung Feng 1 is essentially a Taiwanese built version of the Israeli Gabriel Mk 2 anti-ship missile. It incorporates some design improvements, such as a new radar seeker developed and produced by the Sun Yat Sen Institute in cooperation with the Chung Shan Institute of Research and Technology. Testing began in 1977, and production started two years later. The missile is currently deployed aboard Taiwanese destroyers.
Development of a longer range turbojet-powered version, the Hsiung Feng 2, began in 1983. The missile bears little resemblance to the Hsiung Feng 1, although it is similar in appearance to the U.S. AGM/RGM-84 “Harpoon.” The missile is 4.6 m in length, has a body diameter of 0.34 m, a wing span of 0.9 m, and a launch weight around 685 kg. Midcourse guidance is inertial, with an imaging infra-red (IIR) and active radar terminal seeker. It has a range of 80 km, and carries a 225 kg high explosive semi-armor piercing warhead.
Testing of the Hsiung Feng 2 began in 1983. The missile entered service in 1990 and is currently deployed on the Taiwanese “Cheng Kung” PFG-2 and “Kang Ding” (La Fayette) class frigates, eight launchers per ship, and on “Hai Ou,” “Lung Chiang,” and “Jui Chiang” class fast attack craft, with four launchers per boat. Sources indicate that the Hsiung Feng-2 will also be deployed on “Kwang Hua 6” fast attack craft.
An air-launched version of the Hsiung Feng 2 entered service in 1995 for deployment on F-16 Fighting Falcon and Mirage 2000 aircraft. This version has a reduced length of 2.9 m, as well as a reduced launch weight of 520 kg. It has a maximum range of 80km. In 1994, reports indicated that Taiwan was also using the Hsiung Feng 2 for coastal defense in ground-based missile batteries.
In 2001, an improved version known as the Hsiung Feng 2B with an extended range of 150 km was reported to be in service. The Hsiung Feng 2D is believed to be an air-launch version of the Hsiung Feng 2B. Another improved version known as the Hsiung Feng 2E was also reported with a range of 500 to 600 km. The 2E version was tested through 2001 and probably entered initial production in 2005. The 2B version may have entered service as early as 2007. A third improved version, the Hsiung Feng 2ER, was said to be in development with a range of 870 to 1,250 km. In 2003, an unconfirmed report suggested that some Hsiung Feng 2 missiles would be capable of launch from submarines, although the status of this project is unclear.
The Hsiung Feng 2 missile is available for export, but there are no reported exports of the missile. It is believed that Taiwan has produced about 200 Hsiung Feng 2 missiles. The Hsiung Feng 2B will probably be produced in greater numbers, with an expected total of 500 missiles. About 50 Hsiung Feng 2B missiles were expected to be in service by 2010.(1)
Footnotes
