Taiwan deploys new HF-3ER anti-ship missiles to threaten Chinese warships well beyond previous limits.

As noted by Taepodong on July 15, 2025, Taiwan’s extended-range Hsiung Feng III (HF-3ER) supersonic anti-ship missile was publicly deployed for the first time during the Han Kuang 41 exercises, held from July 9 to 18, 2025. On the same day, President Lai Ching-te visited a site in the Bali District of New Taipei where at least four HF-3ER mobile launchers were positioned, accompanied by a Navy communications relay vehicle. The location, near Taipei Port, was surrounded by security personnel from the presidential detail, naval coastal defense units, and light tactical vehicles from the Army’s Joint Operations Command.
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The development of the HF-3ER missile required the redesign of the launch canisters, which now feature 21 reinforcement ribs compared to the 18 on the standard model. (Picture source: CNA)

The inspection lasted approximately 10 minutes. Military sources confirmed to Central News Agency (CNA), the Taiwanese national news agency, that these missiles were the extended-range HF-3ER variant. This marked the first time these systems were seen in public, although Taiwan has not publicly confirmed the number of units deployed or the exact range. The HF-3ER is a development of the standard Hsiung Feng III (HF-3) anti-ship missile, which was first test-fired in 1997 and entered full operational service in 2011. It was developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) and forms part of a broader family of land-, ship-, and air-launched missiles. The standard HF-3 uses a solid-propellant booster and a liquid-fueled ramjet engine, measures 6.1 meters in length, 0.46 meters in diameter, and weighs approximately 1,500 kilograms. It carries a 225-kilogram warhead with semi-armor-piercing and fragmentation characteristics. It uses inertial navigation and an active radar seeker, with a smart fuse that directs the blast downward upon target penetration. The missile is deployed on Tuo Chiang-class corvettes, Cheng Kung-class frigates, and mobile land-based platforms, and was previously designated for coastal and naval deployment only.

The HF-3ER variant was developed under the “Pān-Lóng” (Coiled Dragon) program during the Ma Ying-jeou administration, with testing conducted between 2017 and 2019. It achieved an increased range of 400 kilometers through the integration of larger propulsion components, including strap-on boosters, while maintaining the ramjet configuration. This required redesigning the launch canisters, which now feature 21 reinforcement ribs compared to the 18 on the standard model. The HF-3ER retains the guidance systems of the baseline model, including inertial navigation and terminal radar homing, and continues to use the 225-kilogram semi-armor-piercing warhead. Reports estimate its cruising speed between Mach 2.3 and Mach 3.5, depending on the platform and trajectory. The missile has also been tested for air-launch capability using the F-CK-1 Indigenous Defense Fighter, with modified designs to reduce size and weight to fit the aircraft’s carrying limits. Visual documentation confirmed a test flight in early 2025 with two missiles mounted underwing on an F-CK-1A MLU aircraft.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense allocated NT$44.1 billion (approximately $1.5 billion) from the NT$240 billion ($8 billion) Sea-Air Power Enhancement Special Budget (2022–2026) for the production of both the standard and extended-range HF-3. Initial annual production was approximately 20 units, but has since increased to around 70 missiles per year. The HF-3ER is intended to equip not only ground-based coastal batteries but also ships, including the Keelung-class destroyers and planned light frigates. The missile is expected to form part of the Navy’s Coastal Combat Command arsenal. Reports also suggest future integration onto aircraft, although limitations in data link compatibility and payload restrictions on the F-CK-1 remain under review. Taiwan has not disclosed the total number of HF-3ER units to be deployed, and actual serial production figures remain classified. The complete operational deployment is targeted for the end of 2025.

The HF-3ER appeared in the context of the Han Kuang 41 exercises, Taiwan’s largest-ever live-fire military drill phase, which focused on testing integrated coastal and urban defense strategies. In addition to HF-3ER deployments, other systems used included U.S.-supplied M1A2T Abrams tanks, HIMARS rocket launchers, Patriot missile systems, and portable Stinger missiles. Near Taipei Port, the 269th Mechanized Infantry Brigade executed a six-layer blockade with cement blocks, Jersey barriers, barbed wire, Hesco bastions, containers, and tour buses. Tactical drones conducted reconnaissance, while Clouded Leopard armored vehicles and U.S. TOW anti-tank missiles were used in defensive drills. Urban defense strategies included using the Taipei metro system for military mobility, with units from the Military Police and the Army’s Third Logistics Command transporting weapons and equipment via service tunnels. The metro exercises were coordinated with local authorities and involved weapons such as Stinger missiles, machine guns, and 40mm grenade launchers.

The HF-3ER complements Taiwan’s five-layer coastal defense framework, where the first strike layer includes long-range anti-ship missiles such as the HF-3ER. This is followed by mobile artillery and rocket systems like Thunderbolt-2000 and HIMARS, attack helicopters such as the AH-64E Apache, inland missile batteries, and finally, armored ground units. With a range of 400 kilometers, the HF-3ER extends Taiwan’s engagement capability to include major Chinese naval bases in Zhejiang and Guangdong, increasing Taiwan’s capacity to interdict enemy ships before they reach landing areas. The system is designed to operate from both mobile launchers and hardened coastal bunkers, allowing for survivability and relocation in response to threats. It supports saturation attacks by launching multiple missiles from different vectors to reduce the effectiveness of enemy defenses. The extended range also permits coverage of potential landing zones and key maritime approaches surrounding Taiwan.

Concerns have been raised about the potential escalation resulting from the HF-3ER’s deployment, with Beijing likely to interpret the operational fielding of a 400-kilometer-range supersonic missile as a direct deterrent aimed at China’s naval power. However, from a military planning perspective, the HF-3ER introduces a stand-off capability that supports Taiwan’s broader strategy of asymmetric defense. Its role is further reinforced by other missile programs, including the Wan Chien and Yun Feng systems. Discussions on air-launched variants also include potential use on the Brave Eagle trainer aircraft. The integration of the HF-3ER into a multi-domain framework, covering land, sea, and air, reflects a shift in Taiwan’s defense posture toward flexible and domestically sourced long-range capabilities. While its future development path includes expanding platform compatibility and increasing production, it remains a key element in Taiwan’s objective to defend its air and sea lines of communication under the current geopolitical climate.