Taiwan releases first firing footage of HF-3 'carrier killer'

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Taiwan's Chung Shan Institute of Science & Technology has released images of the HF-3 supersonic anti-ship missile in firing tests. Source: CSIST
Taiwan's Chung Shan Institute of Science & Technology (CSIST) has released footage showing the indigenously made Hsiung-Feng III (Brave Wind III, or HF-3) supersonic anti-ship cruise missile and Tien Kung III (Sky Bow III, or TK 3) surface-to-air missile system successfully completing test firings.

The footage is the first showing of these missiles in service.

The HF-3 featured in the test was launched from first-of-class frigate ROCS Cheng Kung (PFG-1101). Footage from an infrared camera showed the flight path of the missile, which penetrated the hull of a Second World War-era landing ship tank target. The HF-3 has a reported speed of Mach 2.0 to 2.3 and a range of 81 n miles (150 km).

The HF-3 is the third in the Hsiung Feng series of surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missiles, all of which use an X-band monopulse planar array active radar seeker. Details of the missile were first released in 1998, and it was conceived by CSIST after the 1996 Taiwan Strait crisis. Its objective is to deny People's Liberation Army Navy warships access to the strait and to deter an amphibious invasion by reinforcing the potential for a high casualty rate.

The HF-3 has a reported speed of Mach 2.0 to 2.3 and a range of 81 n miles. (CSIST)


Mass production began in 2007 and continued until 2013 under the project codename Zhui Feng (or Wind Chasing) at a cost of NTD1.9 billion. The missile has been deployed on eight Cheng Kung-class frigates and seven Ching Chiang-class corvettes in a four-canister configuration. The under-development Tuo Jiang-class catamaran corvette will deploy eight of the 'carrier killer' missiles as its main anti-ship system.

An undisclosed number of the land-based versions have been deployed in coast artillery positions or on truck-mounted batteries that include a towed launcher, firecontrol system, galley, command post, TETRA hand-portable radio system, radar, and signal receiver.

The Republic of China Navy frigate Wu Chang (PFG-1207) has a local designed stealth cupola on its main gun. (Charles Au)


The Tien Kung III will replace MIM-23 Hawk missiles from 2015 to 2024, according to the Ministry of National Defense officials. More than NTD700 million has been approved to produce the system under Taiwan's Land Based Surface to Air Missile System programme. The TK-3 will be integrated with the PAVE Phased Array Warning System (PAWS) and Patriot air defence systems and provide medium- and long-range air defence.

CSIST has also installed a new stealthy cupola on one of the Republic of China Navy's Kang Ding-class frigates.

ROCS Wu Ying took part in an open house event on 23 November. The prototype replaces the original 76 mm Mk 75 gun cupola and is intended to reduce radar cross-section. A production version is expected to be installed on the first Tuo Jiang-class corvette, which started sea trials in late September.

http://www.janes.com/article/46788/taiwan-releases-first-firing-footage-of-hf-3-carrier-killer​