Hsiung Feng III
Hsiung Feng III Anti-Ship Missile Display in Chengkungling
TypeAnti-ship missile
Surface to surface missile
Place of originTaiwan
Service history
Used byTaiwan ROCN
Production history
DesignerNational Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST)
ManufacturerNCSIST
Produced2007–present
No. built>250 (2012)[1]
Specifications
Mass3,000–3,300 lb (1,400–1,500 kg)[2]
LengthApprox. 6.1 m (20 ft)[2]
Diameter0.46 m (18 in)[2] missile body only
Warhead225 kg (500 lb) self-forging fragments
Detonation
mechanism
smart fuse
PropellantLiquid fuel ramjet engine, solid fuel main booster and two side boosters
Operational
range
>250 mi (400 km; 220 nmi)[3][4][5]
Flight altitude125–250 m (410–820 ft) (maximum altitude unknown)
Maximum speed ~(Mach 3.5) 1,200 m/s (2,700 mph)
Guidance
system
Inertial guidance with (X band), active radar homing for terminal guidance[2]
Launch
platform
surface ships, transporter erector launcher, and hardened bunkers
References

The Hsiung Feng III (HF-3; Chinese: 雄風三型; pinyin: Xióngfēng sān xíng, "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.[6][7][8]

Design

Initial prototype versions of the missile used the design of an integrated rocket ramjet to achieve supersonic speeds. It uses a solid fuel main booster with two side-by-side solid-propellant jettisonable strap-on rocket boosters for initial acceleration and a liquid-fueled ramjet for sustained cruise. It also employs electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) capabilities allowing it to penetrate an enemy ship's defenses.[7]

The missile is cylindrical in shape and composed of three sections, namely guidance and control, warhead, and propulsion. The body has four inlet ducts and four clipped delta control surfaces. It used the inertial navigation system (INS) during mid-course navigation phase and active radar seeker at terminal guidance phase. The air intake design arrangement was reported to have been optimized for evasive maneuvering at terminal sea-skimming altitudes. The missile is designed to be capable of way-pointing and can be programmed to fly offset attack axes to saturate defenses. It is also capable of high-G lateral terminal "random weaving" maneuvers to evade close-in defenses.[2][7]

It also features an armor-piercing warhead which generates tremendous destruction after hitting the target. The warhead is equipped with self-forging fragments and in the 225 kg (500 lb) weight class. It has a conventional warhead that is triggered by a smart fuze which directs most of the energy downwards, inside the target ship's hull.[2][7][9][10]

The missile is believed to have an operating range of 400 km (250 mi; 220 nmi)[9] with a possible maximum range of over 1,500 km (930 mi; 810 nmi) and a minimum range of 30 km (19 mi; 16 nmi).[2][11] It can be deployed on ships and mobile trailers. The instructions for missile launch can be issued by a command and control system for different platforms and different paths leading to saturation of a ship's defense system.[7]

History

Development

CSIST started a ramjet test vehicle program in 1994, and this project was later merged with the Hsiung Feng program. Flight testing of a prototype started in 1997. Operational testing and evaluation was started in 2004 and was completed by 2005, on board ROCS Cheng Kung.[2][7] The development and flight test program for the Yun Feng supersonic cruise missile was hidden within the HF-3's flight test program.[12]

According to the Jamestown Foundation the HF-3 was intended to counter the SS-N-22 Sunburn which the PRC had acquired with its Sovremennyy-class destroyers.[13]

Deployment

The missile was officially revealed on October 10, 2007, at a military parade in Taipei, Taiwan.[14][15] It has now been deployed aboard the ROC Navy's La Fayette/Kang Ding-class frigate, Cheng Kung-class frigate, Jin Chiang-class patrol gunboats, and on road mobile tractor trailers.[7] In 2019, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen ordered the NCSIST to accelerate mass production of the HF-3 in response to increasing Chinese military power and bellicosity.[16]

Misfire accident

Hsiung Feng III missile mishap

On July 1, 2016, Chinchiang (PGG-610) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy accidentally fired a Hsiung Feng III missile during a training exercise. The missile traveled a distance of about 75 km (47 mi) before it hit a fishing boat[17][18] The captain of the boat was killed and three crew members were injured. The Taiwan Ministry of National Defense stated that the warship's commander, senior arms officer and missile launch control sergeant had all failed to follow standard operating procedure.[19]

Variants

Air launched

The development of an air-launched variant of the HF-3, dubbed the Hsiung Chih, was disclosed in 2022. The air launched variant in expected to be significantly lighter and to use the F-CK-1 as a launch platform.[20]

Security concerns

In late 2021 and early 2022, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) discovered equipment used in the development and testing of the Hsiung Feng III and other missiles used by Taiwan relied on mainland Chinese facilities for repair and maintenance, raising security concerns. NCSIST had shipped the instrument to its manufacturer in Switzerland and was not informed that the equipment would be sent to China. NCSIST performed check after receiving the equipment from China, which did not discover any malware or modifications.[21]

The plot of the thriller Ballistic by Don Pendleton centers on the theft of two HF-3 missiles by international terrorists and their recovery by a team of elite agents.[22]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Cole, J. Michael (15 May 2012). "Vessels being outfitted with HF-3s". www.taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Mei, Fu S. "Supersonic ASCM Equips Frigate," Taiwan Defense Review, August 10, 2006.
  3. ↑ "Taiwan upgrades its Hsiung Feng-3 anti-ship missiles".
  4. ↑ Yeo, Mike (August 8, 2017). "Taiwan to upgrade indigenous missile capabilities". Defense News.
  5. ↑ "Kaohsiung Maritime 2018: Taiwan begins work on next-generation Hsiung Feng missile | Jane's 360". www.janes.com.
  6. ↑ "Taiwan mistakenly fires supersonic missile killing one - BBC News". BBC News. July 2016. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "NCSIST". www.ncsist.org.tw. Retrieved 2017-02-05.
  8. ↑ Hsiao, Russell (20 October 2016). "Taiwan Reportedly Plans to Upgrade Supersonic Hsiung Feng III Missiles". The National Interest. Retrieved 2017-02-05.
  9. 1 2 "More HF-3 missile deployment mulled - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 17 February 2013. Retrieved 2017-02-05.
  10. ↑ "Taiwan's Hsiung Feng III missile vs. China's CX-1 | Cross-Strait Affairs | FOCUS TAIWAN - CNA ENGLISH NEWS". Retrieved 2017-02-05.
  11. ↑ Post Magazine (July 2016). "Taiwan launches investigation into deadly navy anti-ship missile misfire | South China Morning Post". Scmp.com. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
  12. ↑ "Yun Feng". missilethreat.csis.org. CSIS. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  13. ↑ Holmes, James; Yoshihara, Toshi. "Taiwan's Navy: Able to Deny Command of the Sea?". Jamestown. The Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  14. ↑ . 28 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110728082927/http://mna.gpwb.gov.tw/MNANew/Photos/ShowPhotos/High/1/36112-0.jpg. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ↑ . 28 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110728082954/http://mna.gpwb.gov.tw/MNANew/Photos/ShowPhotos/High/1/36108-0.jpg. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. ↑ Wen Kuei-hsiang and, FLor Wang. "Taiwan president urges faster mass production of missiles". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  17. ↑ "Taiwan mistakenly fires supersonic missile killing one". BBC News. 2016-07-01. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  18. ↑ Ramzy, Austin (2016-07-01). "Taiwan Navy Accidentally Fires Antiship Missile, Killing Fisherman". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  19. ↑ "Ministry seeks to debunk missile launch conspiracies". Taipei Times. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 2016-07-04.
  20. ↑ ZAFFAR, HANAN (27 January 2022). "Taiwan to Develop Air-Launched Variant of HF-3 Supersonic Missile". thedefensepost.com. The Defense Post. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  21. ↑ Wang, Fan (4 January 2023). "China-Taiwan: Concern at repair of Taiwanese military device in China". BBC News. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  22. ↑ Pendleton, Don (Jan 1, 2013). Ballistic. Harlequin. ISBN 978-1460301050.
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