| Country: |
Taiwan |
| Alternate Name: |
Sky Horse |
| Class: |
SRBM |
| Basing: |
Surface based |
| Payload: |
Single warhead, 350 kg |
| Warhead: |
HE |
| Propulsion: |
2-stage solid |
| Range: |
950 km |
| Status: |
Terminated |
Details
The Tien Ma missile program was designed to create a short-range, ground based, solid propellant missile. It was initially started in 1993 to extend the Republic of China (ROC)’s defense of Taiwan to inland of the Chinese mainland. The program was cancelled soon after it began because of technical problems, but then restarted in 1996 after the threat from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) began to escalate. The program was however permanently abandoned in 2000 after the technology for use in the Tien Ma was outmoded. In 2005 there were reports that Taiwan was developing 120 MRBM with a 1,000 km range missile; there is some confusion about whether the reports refer to the Ti Ching, Tien Chi or the Tien Ma programs. It is denied denied by the Defense Ministry.
The Tien Ma 1 missile was designed to allow strikes against the mainland of the PRC. The range would have allowed for attacks against PRC cities and inland military targets. The payload is reasonable for use against military targets, but insufficient against population centers. The ROC currently relies upon the United States for its deterrent, so the development of this capability would not fit into ROC missile doctrine. It is probable that the weapon would have been used with powerful high explosive warheads against strategic targets in military and civilian areas, such as command bases, power plants and airfields. ROC guidance technology is sufficiently advanced to be able to strike these targets and successfully undermine the PRC military’s ability to undertake an invasion.
The missile project has probably been replaced, but the ROC maintains extensive secrecy around its missile systems in the face of a likely communist invasion. The Tien Ma 1 was intended to have a range of 950 km (590 miles) and a payload of 350 kg. The concept called for a two-stage solid propellant rocket, capable of being readily fired. It is probably road mobile, to allow for faster deployment. It is likely the program replacing the Tien Ma has similar capabilities.(1)
Footnotes
- Robert Karniol, “Taiwan develops next-generation strike missiles,” Jane’s Missiles and Rockets, 1 October 2000; Wendell Minnick, “Taiwan has no Tien Ma ballistic missiles,” Jane’s Missiles and Rockets, 23 September 2002; Duncan Lennox, Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 46 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, January 2007), 173.
Kennedy on ABC News, Calling for Urgency to Missile Defenses
July 6, 2006 :: ABC News :: News
Brian T. Kennedy, president of the Claremont Institute, discussed U.S. missile defense policy today on ABC News. Following North Korea’s launch of the Taep’o-dong 2 long-range ballistic missile yesterday, Kennedy urged the Bush administration to move forward on developing and deploying effective missile defenses. “The President is very well intentioned when it comes to missile defense. It’s just that we’re not putting the resources toward it quickly enough,” he said. (Link)
» Watch Brian T. Kennedy on ABC News
» More stories on: North Korea, Policy
» Missile details: Tien Ma 1
Spring on North Korea Options
July 6, 2006 :: The Heritage Foundation :: Analysis
Baker Spring of the Heritage Foundation yesterday laid out a comprehensive set of military capabilities for countering North Korea’s growing missile threat. He noted that these capabilities should be seen as part of a larger “damage limitation strategy” that would lessen both the likelihood and potential impact of a military aggression by North Korea on the U.S. and its allies. The first capability would be a conventional defense of South Korea. Such a defense would encompass the achievement of air dominance to support precision air-based attacks, as well as the ability to destroy North Korean artillery, rocket systems, and armored columns. The second military capability would be a global, layered missile defense system, including the deployment of space-based interceptors and sensors. Spring noted that the U.S. should facilitate direct Japanese and South Korea participation in such an effort. The third capability would be a new nuclear deterrent adapted to the requirements of the post-Cold War world, in particular with respect to rogue regimes. Such a deterrent should be capable of holding targets at risk that are valued by the North Korean leadership as means for personal and regime survival, such as strategic weapons, personal security systems, intelligence services, and other instruments of domestic repression. The fourth military capability would be preemption, to be used if U.S. intelligence believes that a Taep’o-dong 2 long-range ballistic missile has been armed with a nuclear warhead. The U.S. should be prepared to preempt with attack aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles armed. The missiles should be armed with conventional warheads when there is high confidence of destroying the targets in question, or nuclear warheads if necessary. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Analysis, North Korea, Policy
» Missile details: Tien Ma 1
North Korea Said Preparing for Further Taep’o-Dong 2, Other Missile Launches
July 6, 2006 :: News
North Korea could be preparing to launch three to four additional missiles, including another long-range Taep’o-dong 2, according to media sources. NBC News reported the possible Taep’o-dong 2 launch, although it noted that the missile is not yet on its launch pad. Chosun Ilbo and JoongAng Ilbo, two major South Korean newspapers, added that North Korea also seems to be preparing to launch additional short- or medium range missiles. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: North Korea
» Missile details: Tien Ma 1
North Korea Fires Taepo-Dong 2, Five Short- and Medium-Range Missiles
July 5, 2006 :: Washington Times :: News
North Korea yesterday test-launched a long-range Taep’o-dong 2 ballistic missile, which broke up 42 seconds into its flight, and five short- to medium-range missiles, including one that landed near Russian territory. According to the Pentagon, the missiles were launched from “multiple locations” and there is a possibility that North Korea will conduct more test launches over the next few days. The Taep’o-dong 2, which is believed to have a range of approximately 15,000 km (9,300 m), broke apart 42 seconds after its launch for reasons as of yet unknown. The five shorter range Nodong and Scud missiles all landed in the Sea of Japan. All six launches were detected and tracked by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). No actions were taken by the U.S. military in response. The White House referred to the missile launches as “a clear provocation,” and said that North Korea’s decision to escalate its standoff with the international community will bring it further alienation. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: North Korea, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: NHK-1/2, Scud B variant, Tien Ma 1
North Korea Must Disclose Missile Test Intentions, Bush Says
June 28, 2006 :: News
President Bush said on Monday, June 26 that North Korea must disclose its intentions concerning its planned Taep’o-dong 2 long-range missile test, as well as what kind of warhead it has on the missile. “The North Koreans should notify the world of their intentions, what they have on top of that vehicle,” the President said. “We don’t know. That’s part of the problem. It’s a non-transparent society that ought to be sharing its intentions with the rest of the world.” The President added that Pyongyang’s behavior has been “provocative,” and that the country has not responded to calls to disclose its intentions. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: North Korea
» Missile details: Tien Ma 1
Japan to Allow U.S. Deployment of Patriots
June 24, 2006 :: AP :: News
Japan and the U.S. have agreed to deploy Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) surface-to-air interceptors at U.S. bases in Japan, reports the AP. The agreement was made earlier this month amid concerns that North Korea would test-launch a Taep’o-dong 2 ballistic missile. According to Japanese officials, the sites and timing for the deployment have not yet been decided. The Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported today, however, that the U.S. will deploy three or four PAC-3 batteries as well as 500-600 troops on the southern island of Okinawa by the end of the year. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Japan
» Missile details: Tien Ma 1
» Missile system details for: Japanese Ballistic Missile Defense, Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
NRO Symposium on Missile Defense and North Korea
June 24, 2006 :: Analysis
A recent symposium on National Review Online presented a range of options for what to do about North Korea.
Angelo M. Codevilla, professor of international relations at Boston University and a fellow at the Claremont Institute, argues that the U.S. should “get serious about missile defense.” He calls the current U.S. missile defense program “Clinton lite and twice the price,” a reference to the Bush administration’s adoption of Clinton’s favoring of ground-based interceptors and other near-term solutions over more effective space-based assets.
Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House, argues that ballistic missile defense will simply not work, and that “no serious person believes this.” The tests of the ground-based interceptors currently deployed in Alaska and California have not been robust enough or realistic enough to assure that the U.S. can intercept a North Korean missile, if launched. The U.S. should instead destroy the missile on its site. “Our ability to preempt the launch is nearly certain,” he wrote.
Malcolm Wallop, former senator and founder and chairman of Frontiers of Freedom, argues that the U.S. should deploy Aegis missile defense warships within range of any North Korea launch sites, making it clear that any missiles launched will be destroyed over North Korean territory. The U.S. should also “demonstrably arm” the ground-based interceptor missiles in Alaska. Only as a last resort should the U.S. attack North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities directly (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Analysis, North Korea
» Missile details: Tien Ma 1
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD, Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD)
Blank on Moscow’s Complacency Toward North Korea
June 24, 2006 :: Analysis
Stephen Blank, professor at the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College, notes that Russia has displayed “amazing insouciance” toward the possible North Korean long-range missile test. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov recently referred to warnings of a possible test as “purely speculative,” while Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aide, Igor Shuvalov, referred to North Korea’s actions as a “psychological test.” Blank documents the Kremlin’s only complaint to date, the fact that nobody has formally notified it of any potential North Korean missile launch. Among Russian experts, the consensus seems to be that Pyongyang’s launch preparations are nothing more than the usual manifestations of political blackmail to secure economic advantages, or perhaps jealousy over the concessions that Iran has been gaining due to its own nuclear program. Blank notes that such conclusions indicate a “widening sphere of discord with Washington” over the issues of North Korea and proliferation and the North Korean. “Under these circumstances,” he writes, “it is reasonable to ask whose psyche needs testing: those who proliferate or those who remain in denial about proliferation’s ultimate consequences for them and everyone else.” (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Analysis, North Korea, Proliferation, Russia
» Missile details: Tien Ma 1
Japan and U.S. Expand Missile Defense Pact
June 23, 2006 :: Washington Post :: News
The U.S. and Japan have signed an agreement to expand cooperation on a joint ballistic missile defense system. The additional pact comes amid concerns that North Korea might test-launch a Taep’o-dong 2 long-range missile. Signed by U.S. Ambassador Thomas Schieffer and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, the agreement commits the two countries to the joint production of interceptor missiles, and allows for the transfer of ballistic missile defense technology from Japan to the U.S.. The technology transfer issue is a sensitive one in Japan, which has long adhered to a self-imposed ban on arms exports.
The agreement is said to have actually been reached by both countries last year, and today’s signing is seen by many as a warning to North Korea, whose 1998 test-launch of a Taep’o-dong 1 medium-range missile over northern Japan served as Tokyo’s primary impetus for pursuing missile defense in the first place. Political and military analysts also say that in the long term, the primary U.S. and Japanese motivation for the expansion of a joint ballistic missile defense shield is fear over the potential threat posed by China. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Japan, Policy
» Missile details: Tien Chi, Tien Ma 1
» Missile system details for: Japanese Ballistic Missile Defense
North Korea Reaffirms: No Longer Bound by Testing Moratorium
June 20, 2006 :: Financial Times :: News
North Korea has again declared that it will no longer adhere to a 2002 agreement with Japan in which it promised not to test long-range ballistics missiles. The 2002 Pyongyang Declaration was signed by Kim Jong Il, North Korea’s leader, and Junichiro Koizumi, Japan’s prime minister. On Tuesday night, however, Ri Pyong Dok, a North Korean foreign ministry official, told Japanese journalists in Pyongyang that a long-range missile test launch “is not bound by any statement such as the Pyongyang Declaration.” The moves comes as North Korea prepares to launch a Taep’o-dong 2 long-range missile that could reach Japan and parts of the continental U.S. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Japan, North Korea
» Missile details: Tien Ma 1
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