Taiwan’s navy launches first surface-to-air missile in six years

Taiwan’s navy launched its premier surface-to-air missile from the deck of a warship on Thursday, its first test of the weapon in six years, destroying a drone simulating a Chinese air attack.

The US-made Standard II missile, fired from the Kidd-class Makung destroyer, soared into the skies over the ocean dozens of miles east off Hualien, eastern Taiwan, hitting the drone, according to the navy.

Artillery were also used in the drill, codenamed “Sea Standard”, that simulated a Chinese strike on the Taiwanese fleet.

“Standard II is very stable. There is no need to fire the costly weaponry every year to verify its reliability,” Admiral Wen Chen-kuo said from the nearby Su Ao destroyer, citing its success six years ago in a similar naval manoeuvre.

Each Standard II missile costs around US$3 million. With a range of over 130 kilometres, it provides warships with a more comprehensive and longer-range air defence capability.

Currently, only four 10,000-tonne Kidd-class destroyers, the biggest warships of Taiwanese navy, are armed with the regional air defence weaponry.