Taiwan to mass produce Tien Kung IV surface-to-air missile to strengthen coastal defense.

According to information published by the Taipei Times on August 3, 2025, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) will initiate mass production of the Tien Kung IV (Sky Bow IV) air defense missile system beginning in 2026, as outlined in the latest list of regulated military materials. The document details the acquisition of 122 missile pods, with 46 units scheduled for delivery in 2026 and the remaining 76 to follow in 2027. Each missile pod is designed to house a single interceptor, marking a substantial investment by Taipei in strengthening its multi-layered missile defense infrastructure amid mounting regional tensions and the growing threat of high-speed aerial and ballistic attacks.
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The Tien Kung IV is a locally developed two-stage missile capable of intercepting ballistic and cruise missiles at altitudes up to 70 km (Picture source : NCSIST)

The Tien Kung IV represents the most advanced evolution of Taiwan’s indigenous Sky Bow series and is developed under the Chiang Kung (Strong Bow) advanced air defense program by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST). Technically, the missile is a two-stage, solid-fueled interceptor equipped with advanced thrust vector control and cold gas attitude control systems for mid-course maneuverability and high-G terminal interception. It features an active radar homing seeker operating in the X-band spectrum, capable of autonomous target acquisition and discrimination in a high-electromagnetic-interference environment. The missile is integrated into a mobile vertical launch platform compatible with Taiwan’s existing missile defense architecture and is managed via a digital fire control network with phased array radar support for simultaneous multi-target tracking and engagement.

The Tien Kung IV is designed to intercept a wide range of aerial threats, including supersonic cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles, and maneuvering reentry vehicles. It offers an effective engagement envelope at altitudes up to 70 kilometers and horizontal ranges exceeding 200 kilometers, positioning it within the same strategic tier as the US-made THAAD system, though with a smaller footprint and indigenous C4ISR integration. The system is also believed to incorporate hit-to-kill guidance and kinetic kill vehicle (KKV) technology, enhancing its lethality against ballistic threats in the exo-atmospheric and upper endo-atmospheric layers.

From a tactical standpoint, the Tien Kung IV offers a critical extension to Taiwan’s air and missile defense network, filling the altitude and range gap between the Sky Bow III system and imported Patriot PAC-3 MSE batteries. This enables Taiwan to deploy a stratified defense grid capable of engaging different threat classes at optimized intercept windows. The system’s mobility allows it to be rapidly repositioned across strategic nodes including air bases, critical infrastructure, and coastal batteries, allowing Taiwan to react flexibly to evolving threat vectors. Its capability to handle saturation attacks and engage targets beyond the atmospheric boundary also significantly enhances Taiwan’s defensive posture against high-volume missile strikes and decapitation strategies often featured in PLA invasion simulations.

Taiwan’s decision to fast-track production and deployment of the Tien Kung IV is deeply rooted in its deteriorating security environment. Over the past two years, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has sharply escalated its military pressure campaign, including regular large-scale aerial incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), naval exercises encircling the island, and the deployment of precision-strike platforms such as the DF-15, DF-16, and DF-17 missile systems in proximity to the Taiwan Strait. China’s military doctrine now includes rapid force projection and area-denial operations designed to neutralize Taiwanese air power and command nodes in the early stages of a conflict. In this context, the Tien Kung IV serves as both a deterrent and an operational countermeasure, designed to disrupt and attrit incoming missile salvos and secure Taiwan’s strategic depth during a potential cross-strait confrontation.

In parallel with its air defense modernization, Taiwan is advancing the development of a next-generation eight-wheeled armored fighting vehicle derived from the proven CM-33 Yunpao (Clouded Leopard) platform. This new variant is equipped with a 105mm rifled cannon mounted in an unmanned turret, supported by a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and a roof-mounted 12.7mm heavy machine gun, all integrated into a modern remote weapon station (RWS) with stabilized optics and digital fire control. The vehicle recently completed its initial operational capability trials, demonstrating mobility across rugged terrain and high-precision firing on the move. Designed to operate alongside mechanized infantry and in urban defense roles, the new AFV is expected to begin full-rate production in 2028, with a planned order of 500 units.

Together, the mass production of the Tien Kung IV missile system and the upcoming deployment of the new 105mm wheeled AFV underscore Taiwan’s commitment to building a resilient, indigenous defense ecosystem capable of responding to multi-domain threats. As Beijing intensifies its efforts to coerce and isolate Taiwan militarily and diplomatically, Taipei’s defense strategy is shifting decisively toward enhanced autonomy, survivability, and deterrence by denial.