Taiwan's aging 'Ching-kuo' air defense system to serve until 2031 before NASAMS takes over

Taiwan's aging "Ching-kuo" (Sky Bow I) vehicle-mounted air defense missile system, a mainstay for low-altitude defense at military airfields for two decades, is set to continue its service until at least 2031. Despite its long tenure, the system faces significant challenges in confronting contemporary battlefield threats.

Originally integrated with the indigenous Sky Bow I short-range missiles onto a commercial Toyota truck chassis, the Ching-kuo system was designed for mobile defense, particularly for protecting runway repair crews during drills like the Han Kuang exercise. However, its capabilities are now considered insufficient against the high-intensity warfare environment characterized by swarms of drones and cruise missiles, as seen in conflicts like the Ukraine war.

Military sources highlight critical limitations of the Ching-kuo system. Its vehicle-mounted radar, adapted from an air-to-air missile seeker, has a very limited detection range and cannot integrate into modern networked air defense systems. This makes it difficult to track and engage small, low-radar cross-section targets like suicide drones or drone swarms. Furthermore, each vehicle carries only four missiles, and manual reloading is time-consuming, significantly reducing its combat survivability under intense aerial attack.

To address these vulnerabilities, Taiwan is acquiring the NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) from the United States. The NASAMS features advanced phased-array radar, enabling simultaneous engagement of multiple targets and network-centric defense capabilities. The initial procurement includes three systems, with plans for nine more, totaling 12 NASAMS batteries. These systems are expected to be fully operational around 2031, creating a transitional period where the Ching-kuo system must continue to fill the defensive gap.

The future air defense strategy for Taiwan involves a "high-low mix" approach. The air force will prioritize the U.S.-made NASAMS for defending critical fixed sites like airfields, while the army and marine corps will utilize the domestically produced "Sky Bow II" (Lu She Jian Er) system for mobile air defense missions. Although the Ching-kuo system will remain in service for several more years, the planned upgrades signal a significant enhancement of Taiwan's low-altitude defense network.