Taiwan could begin production of HF-3 in 2004

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 02-10-02 AT 02:13 AM (GMT)]Got this from Redleg01 from the CDF. It’s a new article from Jane’s. I like your comments on your namesake, HF3.

JANE’S MISSILES AND ROCKETS – OCTOBER 01, 2002

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Taiwan could begin HF-3 production in 2004
Wendell Minnick

According to a report in the Chinese- language Liberty Times, Taiwan’s military-run Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST) will produce and deploy the Hsiung Feng 3 (Brave Wind 3) anti-ship missile in 2004 at the earliest, writes Wendell Minnick. The HF-2 missile currently in service has a range of over 100km and a speed of Mach 0.85, but the new HF-3 will fly at supersonic speed. Its reported range of 300km placing the eastern coast of China’s Fujian Province within striking distance.

The Hsiung Feng programme has experienced technical difficulties. During the annual Hankuang 17 (Han Glory) joint-force exercise in April 2001, a HF-2 over flew the target and flew 100km before crashing into the water. The problem was identified as a glitch in the radar seeker and is believed to have been corrected, but the incident served as an embarrassment for CSIST’s Hsiung Feng Program Office (HFPO).

There are sceptics that argue that the HF-3 is far from production. Media reports in Taiwan of CSIST’s progress with HF-3 and the HF-2E land-attack cruise missile programmes have frequently been proven wrong. While development of these missiles is progressing, but the pace is slow.

There is serious debate within the Taiwan military community whether they should buy additional Harpoon missiles from the US or continue development on HF. Taiwan has a stated policy of ‘self-reliance’ which favours the development of indigenous weapon systems, and has become increasingly hostile to the procurement of foreign weapons.

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The last sentence is interesting for what it may forbode on future F-CK1 variants.