Yun Feng
| Yun Feng | |
|---|---|
| Type | Land-attack cruise missile |
| Place of origin | Taiwan |
| Service history | |
| In service | Deployed |
| Production history | |
| Designer | National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology |
| No. built | >50 (in production) |
| Specifications | |
| Propellant | Liquid fuel ramjet engine with solid rocket booster |
Operational range | 1,200–2,000 kilometres (750–1,240 mi) |
| Maximum speed | (Mach 6) 2,060 m/s (4,600 mph) |
Launch platform | Transporter erector launcher |
| Transport | 10x10 truck |
The Yun Feng (Chinese: 雲峰; lit. 'Cloud Peak'), officially designated Ching Tien (雲峰), is a Taiwanese supersonic land-attack cruise missile.[1][2]
Design and development
[edit]The missile was developed by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology and has a range of about 1,200–2,000 kilometres (750–1,240 mi) kilometers. It has a ramjet engine with a solid rocket booster capable of a supersonic speed of Mach 6 or 2,060 m/s (4,600 mph). It can carry a semi-armor piercing high explosive and fragmentation warhead. The missile is one of the few assets within Taiwan's arsenal which can reach targets in north and central People's Republic of China.[1][3] Development may have been started as far back as the Lee Teng-hui administration but official reports of its existence did not surface until 2012.[4] Test flights of the Yun Feng were concealed within the HF-3 supersonic anti-ship missile test flight program.[3]
In 2016, Ministry of National Defense (MND) denied reports that the missile program was terminated.[5][6] This speculation was based on a belief that the project would be cancelled as a goodwill gesture towards China.[4] The missile was publicly acknowledged for the first time by defense minister Chiu Kuo-cheng during a Legislative Yuan joint committee hearing in October 2021.[7]
The project received and was known by the codename Yun Feng. The missile is officially designated the Ching Tien (擎天).[8]
Variants
[edit]In 2018, it was announced that NTD 12.4 billion (~ USD 390 million) had been allocated by the Ministry of Defense under the "Qilin Project” to both extend the range of the missile as well as to adapt it for satellite launch.[4]
Enhanced Yun Feng
[edit]In August 2019, mass production of the enhanced Yun Feng cruise missile commenced with an initial order for 20 missiles and 10 mobile launch vehicles. The enhanced variant has been described as a high altitude ramjet powered cruise missile.[9]
Satellite launch vehicle
[edit]The missile is being upgraded to function as a satellite launch vehicle by National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology. This vehicle will be capable of delivering satellites between 50 and 200 kilograms at a low Earth orbit of around 500 kilometers.[10][11] It is suspected that the upgrade program will extend the range of the missile to 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi), which puts Beijing within its striking range.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Taiwan to aim missiles at China". NewsComAu. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
- ^ migration (2013-03-18). "Taiwan to aim 50 medium-range missiles at China: Report". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
- ^ a b c "Yun Feng | Missile Threat". Missile Threat. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
- ^ a b c Everington, Keoni (25 January 2018). "Taiwan's upgraded 'Cloud Peak' missiles could reach Beijing". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
- ^ "Ministry talking to Google about island 'secret' leaks - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
- ^ Cole, J. Michael (2016-09-21). "To Terminate or Not? Taiwan's 'Cloud Peak' Medium-Range Missile Program - The News Lens International Edition". The News Lens International Edition. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
- ^ Yu, Kai-Hsiang; Wang, Ken (6 October 2021). "Taiwan military confirms 'Yun Feng' missile's existence". Central News Agency. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- ^ Tien-pin, Lo; Hetherington, William. "New missiles can travel 2,000km: source". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ DeAeth, Duncan (9 August 2019). "Taiwan begins production of Cloud Peak missiles and mobile launch platforms". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "Taiwan to Upgrade 'Cloud Peak' Medium-range Missiles for Micro-Satellites Launch".
- ^ "「麒麟專案」今年完工3套火箭 雲峰射程提升至2千公里 | ETtoday軍武新聞 | ETtoday新聞雲". 26 June 2018.
