 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Taiwan Begins Deployment Of Cruise Missiles: Report
Taipei (AFP) Aug 12, 2005 Taiwan has begun deploying home-made cruise missiles on mobile launchers that are capable of hitting major military targets in southeast China, a newspaper here reported Friday. The China Times said the Hsiung Feng missiles, which have a range of 1,000 kilometers (600 miles), were deployed across the island by the defense ministry's new missile command. The missiles, which each cost some 100 million Taiwan dollars (3.13 million , were developed by the military-run Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology, the paper said. The institute was also developing cruise missiles with a range of 2,000 kilometers for further deployment. The China Times said President Chen Shui-bian had inspected the missile command and witnessed a mock launch of the cruise missiles. The defense ministry declined to comment on the report. Taiwan reportedly successfully test-fired its first cruise missile earlier this year which flew over 500 kilometers before hitting its target. Last month the Pentagon released a report warning that China had deployed up to 730 ballistic missiles targeting the island. It said Beijing's defense build-up could tip the military balance against Taiwan and pose a credible threat to other countries in the region. In a bid to beef up Taiwan's defense capabilities, the cabinet has approved a revised arms deal worth some 15.5 billion dollars to buy weapons from the United States, its largest arms supplier. The arms package over a 15-year period from 2005, pending approval by parliament, includes eight conventional submarines, a modified version of the Patriot anti-missile system and a fleet of anti-submarine aircraft. The massive budget proposal has stirred heated debate on the island as critics said the spending could further provoke China and heighten cross-strait tensions. China sees Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification despite their split in 1949, and has repeatedly threatened to invade if the island declares formal independence. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Northrop Grumman Wins Contract For Target And Space-Launch Missile Work
Reston VA (SPX) Jan 12, 2006Northrop Grumman has been awarded a follow-on contract to provide technical support to the U.S. Air Force's Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP). |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
