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Sky Sword II

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For the short-range missile, see Sky Sword I.
Sky Sword II
TC-II Sky Sword 2 (air-to-air version)
TypeBeyond-visual-range air-to-air missile
Place of originTaiwan
Service history
Used byRepublic of China Air Force
Republic of China Navy
Republic of China Army
Production history
Designed1990s
ManufacturerNational Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology
Specifications
Mass184 kg
Length3.694 m / 4.6 m (TC-2N)
Diameter19 cm
Operational
range
100 km (62 mi) (TC-2C)
Maximum speed Mach 6 (TC-2C)
Guidance
system
Transis guiding phase : Inertial navigation system Terminal homing phase : Active radar homing
Launch
platform
Air Force: AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-Kuo
Navy: Tuo Chiang-class corvette & Kang Ding-class (in future)
Army: Transporter erector launchers
References
ROCAF F-CK-1A at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base with two TC-1 on the wingtips and two TC-2 underbody
ROCAF F-CK-1A underbody have two TC-2

The Sky Sword II, Tien Chien II, or TC-2 (Chinese: 天劍二; pinyin: Tiān Jiàn Èr; Wade–Giles: Tʻien1 Chien4 Êrh4) 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.[1] According to Su Tzu-yun, chief executive officer at the Center for Advanced Technology at Tamkang University, they are a cost-effective design which can perform a key role in Taiwan's defense strategy, and substantially offset China's air superiority.[2] Some details of its design were revealed for the first time at the Paris Air Show in 2015.[3] The pulse doppler radar seeker reportedly has a detection range of 9.3 km (5.8 mi).[4]

Development

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Development of the Sky Sword II family began during the 1990s.[5][1]

Service history

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In 2017 a Sky Sword II launched by a F-CK-1 during a training exercise failed to ignite and fell into the sea.[6] In 2019 TC-2 was among 117 missiles fired during a training exercise off Taiwan's west coast.[7]

Variants

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TC-2N

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A ship-launched TC-2N emission
A ship-launched, Surface-to-air TC-2N model
A ship-launched, Surface-to-air TC-2N model

A ship-launched, surface-to-air version was later developed and designated TC-2N. It began development in 1994, and a ground-based test was first carried out against a low-flying drone in 1997. This development was revealed to the public in 2005 and the intention to make it compatible with vertical launch methods was later announced in 2006. The first ship-based launch was held in mid 2014.[8] In the naval role the TC-2N fills an air defense gap between the Phalanx CIWS and SM-2 systems[9] with a range of 30 km (19 mi).[10]

The missile has all-weather capability, is equipped with a thrust-vectoring booster to increase its range as well as maneuverability during launch phase (although early ship-based launch trials were carried out without this feature), and can engage anti-ship missiles and aircraft. It also has folding control surfaces to be quad-packed into either above-deck oblique launchers or in-deck vertical launch systems.[8]

By May 2021 the TC-2N had passed its live fire trials and operational evaluations. Final evaluation was conducted aboard the Tuo Chiang-class corvette Ta Chiang.[11]

Tuo Chiang-class corvette Ta Chiang(PGG-619) are equipped to carry up to 16 TC-2N.[12]

Yushan-class landing platform dock are equipped to carry up to 32 TC-2N.

TC-2A

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TC-2A is an anti-radiation missile, similar to the AGM-88 HARM. The TC-2A program began soon after the completion of the TC-2. It fills the requirement of the ROCAF for an Anti-Radiation Missile to arm the F-CK-1.[13] It is reported to be 3.6 m (11 ft 10 in) long, 19 cm (7.5 in) in diameter, weighs 184 kg (406 lb) (warhead weighs 22 kg (49 lb)), and with a range of 100 km (62 mi). The passive radar seeker on the TC-2A has been reported as having a detection range of 92 km (57 mi).[14]

TC-2C

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TC-2C is an advanced air-to-air version first tested in 2017 and intended to replace the standard TC-2. It features a number of incremental improvements including an improved rocket motor which allows an engagement range of 100 km (62 mi).[15] Maximum speed is in the Mach 6 range.[16]

In 2021 it was announced that an extended range version of the TC-2 had been ordered by the Air Force with 250-300 ordered from NCSIST at a unit cost of NT$30 million (US$1.07 million).[17]

Land Sword 2

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Surface-to-Air TC-2 model and CS/MPQ-90 Bee Eye radar

The land based version of the TC-2N, called the land sword two (陸劍二, pinyin: lù jiàn èr) features the missile packaged in a sealed container-launcher.[citation needed] NCSIST has exhibited a truck mounted version with four missile pods.[18] The TC-2 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).[19]

Six batteries with 246 missiles were ordered in 2019.[20]

A TC-2 battery participated in the 2021 Double Ten Day parade.[21] In 2024 a TC-2 battery participated in a live fire exercise in Pingtung, firing four missiles.[22]

The ground launched TC-2 is also referred to as the Tien Chien III (TC-3).[23]

TC-3/TC-5

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The Tien Chien 3 is an improved air-to-air missile under development from the TC-2. Range of 160 kilometers (99 miles).[24] This offers similar range to the AIM-120C-8. This missile is also referred to as the TC-5. It is distinct from the ground launched TC-2.[23]

See also

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Similar weapons

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References

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  1. ^ a b "NCSIST". www.ncsist.org.tw. Retrieved 2017-02-12.
  2. ^ "Redefining Taiwan's air defense - Taipei Times". 16 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Weapons institute releases new video to be aired at Paris show - Politics - FOCUS TAIWAN - CNA ENGLISH NEWS".
  4. ^ "Active Radar Seeker (AAM MR, Sky Sword II)". cmano-db.com. CMANO. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  5. ^ "NCSIST". www.ncsist.org.tw. Retrieved 2017-02-12.
  6. ^ Claudia Liu, Elaine Hou and. "Air Force reports another missile glitch". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  7. ^ Everington, Keoni (31 July 2019). "Taiwan fires over 100 missiles during China war drills". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  8. ^ a b "NCSIST". www.ncsist.org.tw. Retrieved 2017-02-12.
  9. ^ "Tien Chien-2N (TC-2N)". missiledefenseadvocacy.org. Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  10. ^ "Surface-to-Air TC-2 Mid-range Air-defense Missile". www.ncsist.org.tw/eng/csistdup/main/Default.aspx. National Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  11. ^ Chen, Kelvin (27 May 2021). "Taiwan Navy to deploy new air defense missile system in August". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  12. ^ Yeo, Mike (13 April 2021). "Taiwan launches new amphibious vessel with anti-ship missiles". www.defensenews.com. Defense News. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  13. ^ Hsu, Brian (8 September 2000). "Report says military developing new missile". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  14. ^ "Passive Radar Seeker (Sky Sword IIA)". cmano-db.com. CMANO. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  15. ^ Lo Tien-pin and, Jonathan Chin (25 December 2017). "Extended-range missiles ready for use". www.taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  16. ^ "Taiwan's Air Force Tests Homegrown Sky Sword II C Missile". www.defenseworld.net/. Our Bureau. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  17. ^ Yu, Matt; Yeh, Joseph. "Taiwan to soon mass produce extended-range air-to-air missiles: source". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  18. ^ "Land-Based Air Defense Missile System". ncsist.org.tw. NCSIST. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  19. ^ "IDEX 2019: Land-based TC-2 air defense missile system by NCSIST". armyrecognition.com. Army Recognition. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  20. ^ Zhezheng, Hong. "Army purchases Chinese Academy of Sciences Sword II land-fired air defense missile vehicle". udn.com. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  21. ^ Chun-hui, Yang; Madjar, Kayleigh (11 October 2021). "National Day: Double Ten Day celebrated with performances". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  22. ^ Yu-jing, Huang; Su-wei, Wu; Lin, Sean. "Mobile air defense system makes successful debut at Pingtung drill: Source". focustaiwan.tw. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  23. ^ a b Tien-pin, Lo; Chin, Jonathan. "Air force developing new jet missiles". Taipei Times. taipeitimes.com. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  24. ^ 自由時報電子報 (2023-12-09). "「天劍三型」飛彈傳爭取明年起量產 射程丶速度超越現役空射劍二 - 自由軍武頻道". def.ltn.com.tw. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
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