Taiwan identifies Chinese JL-2 missile test, details flight path over Luzon

Taiwan's top security official, Joseph Wu, has precisely identified a Chinese submarine-launched ballistic missile test, specifying the weapon as a "JL-2" and detailing its flight path.

According to Wu's X posts, the missile was launched from the South China Sea on July 6, traversed over northern Luzon in the Philippines, and ultimately landed in the high seas of the South Pacific, between Nauru and Tonga. Experts estimate the total flight distance to be around 7,000 kilometers, with some analyses suggesting it could exceed 7,300 kilometers, aligning closely with the operational range of the JL-2.

Government sources revealed that Taiwan's ability to track the missile accurately relied on a two-pronged intelligence approach. Initially, the missile's ascent from a nuclear-powered submarine in the South China Sea was detected and continuously monitored by Taiwan's long-range early warning radar system, located in Leshan, Hsinchu. This system, nicknamed "Leshan Giant Buddha," is an AN/FPS-115 PAVE PAWS radar, customized for enhanced detection of low-altitude cruise and tactical ballistic missiles, with a maximum detection range of 5,000 kilometers covering areas from North Korea to the Philippines.

As the missile flew eastward and exceeded the radar's coverage, Taiwan shared the tracking data with the United States. U.S. satellites and long-range early warning radars then took over, continuing to monitor the missile's trajectory. This collaborative intelligence sharing highlights the close security cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S. in monitoring regional military activities.