Taiwan has unveiled plans to develop a long-range, subsonic anti-ship cruise missile designed to strike Chinese aircraft carriers and other high-value naval targets, in a move analysts say could significantly enhance the island’s deterrence capabilities.
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) disclosed the program under the Defence Industry Development Act, identifying it as a “long-range subsonic anti-ship cruise missile.” The ministry has earmarked NT$40 million (US$1.3 million) in each of the next two years to purchase 80 frequency-agile coaxial magnetrons — radar components that can shift frequencies to reduce interference and improve target detection.
The components will be integrated into the new missile as well as Taiwan’s existing Hsiung Feng II and III systems, prompting analysts to conclude the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) has been developing the weapon for several years.
Local media previously reported that between 2021 and 2022, the MND allocated more than NT$800 million to create the missile, drawing on the core technology of the Hsiung Feng IIE land-attack cruise missile but with enhanced stealth features.
Extending the Island’s Strike Reach
Lu De-yun, a former MND press secretary, said the new missile is intended to address range gaps in Taiwan’s current arsenal. The Hsiung Feng III, with a range of about 400 km, cannot outrange China’s carrier-based aircraft, which can strike from 500 km away. Taiwan’s US-made Harpoon missiles, with a range of just over 200 km, require F-16 fighters to enter heavily defended airspace, limiting their operational value.
“This is why developing a stand-off missile capable of striking from outside enemy defenses has become an urgent need,” Lu said.
The new design is reportedly modeled on the US AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER), which can hit targets at nearly 1,000 km. A more advanced variant, the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), has a range of about 500 km and uses passive infrared imaging to lock onto ships while avoiding radar detection.
Lu suggested Taiwan’s missile might trade some AI-enabled functions for larger fuel capacity, potentially pushing its range to 600–1,000 km — enough to threaten mainland targets directly from Taiwan. “Such a longer reach and heavier punch would force PLA carrier groups to keep their distance and provide substantial deterrence,” he said.
‘Silent Killer’ for Asymmetric Defense
Su Tzu-yun, a senior analyst at Taiwan’s Institute for National Defence and Security Research, said the weapon is expected to feature advanced stealth, infrared targeting, and no active radar emissions, enabling it to approach undetected and strike at vulnerable points on enemy ships.
“If deployed in Taiwan, it could cover the East China Sea to the north and the South China Sea to the south, creating a vast kill zone against the Chinese navy,” Su said. “This would be a silent killer — precise, selective, and difficult to intercept.”
Su noted that Sweden’s Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates Taiwan can domestically produce up to 92% of its missile requirements, making it likely that NCSIST’s program — under development since 2021 — is already yielding results.
Strategic Context
The announcement comes as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been conducting carrier group exercises in the western Pacific, part of a broader pattern of increased military pressure on Taiwan.
Analysts say the new missile reflects Taipei’s push for “asymmetric capabilities” to offset Beijing’s naval superiority, particularly its growing carrier fleet. “The advent of the missile is expected not only to reshape Taiwan’s maritime defense strategy, but also to give the military a genuine carrier killer,” Su said.
Beijing considers Taiwan part of China and has not ruled out using force to bring it under mainland control. The US, while maintaining a policy of “strategic ambiguity,” is legally obligated under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taipei with defensive arms.
