Sky Spear

Sky Spear
TypeShort-range ballistic missile
Place of originTaiwan
Service history
In service2001-current
Production history
DesignerNational Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology
No. builtUnknown
Specifications
Mass1,150 kg
Length8.0 m
Width0.41 m
Payload capacity500 kg
PropellantTwo-stage solid propellant
Operational
range
300 kilometres (190 mi)
Launch
platform
Transporter erector launcher or silo
TransportTruck

The Sky Spear (天戟 Tien Chi) is a Taiwanese short-range ballistic missile (SRBM).[1] Derived from the Sky Bow II (Tien Kung-2) surface-to-air missile, the Tien Chi has a two-stage booster that extends over the single-stage Tien Kung-2. The Sky Spear was developed by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST) in Taiwan. As of early 2001, up to 50 Tien Chi missiles were deployed at two sites: Tungyin Island, and an unidentified second location. The Tungyin Island missiles are said to be housed in silos and protected by batteries of Tien Kung-2 SAMs.

Description

Information provided by CSIST to Jane's Missiles and Rockets, revealed that Tien Chi uses a submunition warhead and there is no unitary warhead for this missile. According to this report, Tien Chi was developed by CSIST following test firings of a Tien Kung 2 variant with a 120 km range and a 90 kg HE warhead. The report also credited Tien Chi missile with a range of 300 km and a 500 kg payload. This range is well beyond the reported 200 km maximum range of the Tien Kung II SAM system, but since Tien Chi is used in a tactical surface-to-surface missile role, it would fly a more efficient trajectory with no need for energy-consuming manoeuvres. Guidance is believed to be an integrated INS/GPS system.[2]

History

It has been reported that Taiwan has deployed 15-50 missiles on Tungyin and Penghu.[3]

Variants

According to the Taipei Times retired president of NCSIST Kung Chia-cheng claimed that two variants were developed, one with a range of 600km and the other with a 1000km+ range. Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian was reportedly very surprised by how large the missiles were when he went to inspect them.[4]

General characteristics

See also

References

  1. ^ Minnick, Wendell: A better indigenous missile defense, Taipei Times, July 13, 2001.
  2. ^ Richardson, Doug "Taiwan switches from Tien Kung I to Tien Kung II," Jane's Missiles and Rockets, August, 2006.
  3. ^ "Tien Chi". missilethreat.csis.org. Center for Strategic and International Studies. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  4. ^ Tien-pin, Lo; Hetherington, William (13 November 2023). "New missiles can travel 2,000km: source". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Tien Chi / Sky Spear". www.globalsecurity.org.