However, the United States has informed the Navy that due to operational and technical issues, the relevant delivery schedule will be postponed by one to two years. It is pointed out that the Taiwan Navy plans to complete 100 shore-mounted Harpoon Missile System launch vehicles and 100 Harpoon Missiles in 5 years. However, the current production capacity of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is insufficient, and it is urgent to purchase a Coastal Harpoon missile system . The Taiwan Ministry of National Defense stated that the acquisition plan is based on a computer simulation analysis that if they want to neutralize 50% of the enemy’s maritime targets, they must increase the number of its anti-ship missiles. Harpoon Missile in Flight (Image: US Navy) The delay does not meet the purpose of urgent procurement Integrated inertial/GPS guidance, Active-Radar Homingġ25–250 m (410–820 ft) (maximum altitude unknown) Integrated inertial guidance, Active-Radar Homing Solid-propellant booster, liquid-fueled ramjet engine The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile, developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing Defense, Space & Security).Ģ25 kg, Semi-armor piercing, High Explosive, Fragmentation

Truck-mounted Hsiung Feng 2, Hsiung Feng 3 anti-ship missile launchers at Zuoying Naval Base (Image: Wikipedia) Harpoon Block II The Hsiung Feng III ( HF-3 “Brave Wind III”) is a medium range supersonic missile with capabilities to destroy both land based targets and naval targets developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) in Taiwan. The news report added that Taipei had requested to buy the RGM-84Q-4 Harpoon Block II+ ER missile but Washington only agreed to sell the RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II. Taiwan produces its own highly capable, supersonic coastal defense missiles, the Hsiung Feng III, capable of travel at more than two times the speed of sound. This lead to speculation that the sales contract to Boeing was forced on the Taiwan Navy. It was also pointed out that the entire purchase, from preparing draft to approval, took only three months and it was not part of the Taiwanese Navy’s weapon acquisition work plan for 2020. (Image: Wikimedia-2002) The purchase was not part of Taiwan weapon acquisition plan for 2020 Royal Danish Navy’s Mobile Missile Battery which was in service from early 90’s capable of firing Harpoon missiles for coastal defense. In addition, the Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems communications and other related equipment will be delayed as well. But at the end of last year, the United States informed Taiwan that due to operational issues and other related issues, the delivery of other equipment will be delayed for one year until the end of 2025, and the delivery of new missiles will be delayed. In the beginning, the delivery of the missiles was planned for 2024. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 26 October 2020 the approval of a USD2.37 billion sale to Taiwan of up to 100 Boeing Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems (HCDSs) and up to 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II medium-range, surface-launched, anti-ship missiles along with related equipment and support. Taiwan is unlikely to take delivery of the Harpoon Coastal Defense System in 2024 after the United States informs Taiwan that Boeing can only start delivery of equipment in 2025, according to Taiwanese Up Media. A view of an RGM-84 surface-to-surface Harpoon missile, immediately after leaving a canister launcher aboard the cruiser USS LEAHY (CG-16), near the Pacific Missile Test Center, Calif.

Taiwan harpoon missile