The Republic of China Army (ROCA) successfully test-fired its domestically developed TC-2N Land Sword II air defense missile system on 15 April from the Jiupeng Military Base in Pingtung County during Exercise Divine Bow. The live-fire exercise involved the 43rd Artillery Command of the Eighth Army and the 21st Artillery Command of the Sixth Army, showcasing inter-unit collaboration in operating the new air defense system. The test, originally scheduled for April 9th, was postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions. A total of three Land Sword II missiles were fired during the test, commencing at 9:10 am local time. The successful launches demonstrate the system’s functionality and readiness for integration into Taiwan’s air defense network.
Developed by the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST), the Land Sword II leverages technology derived from the Sky Sword II air-to-air missile. The Sky Sword II (Tien Chien II, TC-2) is a Taiwanese beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile. It has an inertial navigation system, a data-link for mid-course guidance and active radar homing for terminal guidance, beyond visual range. It also has ECCM capability and can engage multiple targets. They are a cost-effective design which can perform a key role in Taiwan’s defense strategy, and substantially offset China’s air superiority. Some details of its design were revealed for the first time at the Paris Air Show in 2015. The pulse doppler radar seeker reportedly has a detection range of 9.3 km (5.8 mi).
The Land Sword II is designed to detect and engage fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and cruise missiles. A complete Land Sword II battery consists of several key components:
Engagement control vehicle: This vehicle serves as the command center for the entire system, coordinating target acquisition, tracking, and missile launches.
CSIST-developed Bee Eye radar system: The Bee Eye radar provides crucial target detection and tracking data for effective missile engagements.
Launch vehicle: This vehicle carries and launches the Land Sword II missiles.
Ammunition carrier: This vehicle serves as a mobile resupply unit, ensuring a sustained supply of missiles for continuous operation.
The TC-2N Land Sword II air defense missile system features the missile packaged in a sealed container-launcher. NCSIST has exhibited a truck mounted version with four missile pods. The air-defense system was exhibited at International Defence Exhibition in Abu Dhabi with a reported canister length of 4 m (13 ft) and an all up weight (combined canister and round) of 350 kg (770 lb). It reportedly retains the midcourse inertial guidance with data link and terminal active radar guidance schemes, as well as an electronic counter-countermeasure (ECCM) capability. Because it lacks the naval version’s booster, however, its effective range is reportedly only 15 km (9.3 mi). Six batteries with 246 missiles were ordered in 2019. A TC-2 battery participated in the 2021 Double Ten Day parade.
