Military

Advanced Indigenous, International Arms on Show at Taipei Defense Expo

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By Fuhua Hung/Alan Lu

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Taipei kicks off one of Taiwan’s top defense expos, showcasing advanced homegrown weapons and new global partnerships. The highlight this year is a locally developed anti-ballistic missile system.

Taiwan Showcases Military Innovation at Taipei Defense Expo

 

REPORTER:  

The M1A2T Abrams tank and the HIMARS rocket system are on display at the Taipei Aerospace and Defense Industry Exhibition.

 

But this year’s star attraction is the Chiang Kung or Strong Bow missile defense system – making its debut at this expo.

 

Military officials say it can take out incoming ballistic missiles at ranges of 70 kilometers — and fly higher than the U.S. Patriot missile.

 

This is our first set of domestically produced medium-to-high-altitude [air defense] systems. It can intercept enemy tactical ballistic missiles at higher altitudes.

 

REPORTER:  

But, Taiwan is focused on more than missile defense.

 

The country’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. is showcasing an indigenous counter-drone system, one that uses “soft kill” features, such as a jamming system to suppress incoming drones, as well as “hard kill” options to shoot them down.

 

Its developers say the system is part of Taiwan’s push to build weapons without components from China and join the global so-called non-red supply chain.

 

We offer “non-red” solutions. This is also a feature the Ministry of National Defense values highly. Whether it’s the overall system architecture or the laser components everything we build is backed by “non-red” solutions.

 

REPORTER:  

Experts say working with international partners is key to Taiwan achieving this plan.

 

Taiwan is extraordinary in respect to innovation, absolutely one of the leading countries in the world, but it doesn't know what it doesn't know, right? It has to go out in the world and establish relationships with countries that are directly, that are directly working and or have experience in drones.

 

REPORTER:  

These relationships were on full display at the expo.

 

Here, US-made small unmanned vessels -- drone boats -- are meant to defend against attack from the sea.

 

They’re not only low-cost but when carrying warheads can pack a punch, and they can even carry surveillance gear for intelligence-gathering missions.

 

Instead of acting like a fleet, what they do is they provide you with a maritime domain awareness that's very critical. You use these platforms as a tool to be able to perform different missions, and that's what gives you your asymmetric capability.

 

REPORTER:  

The defense exhibition also showcases Taiwan’s first ever domestically built submarine, the Hai Kun, which is still undergoing sea trials and is scheduled for delivery in November.