Taiwan's Sky Bow IV Missile System Enters Hypersonic Era, Production Budget Faces New Review

Taiwan's defense capabilities are set to receive a significant boost with the official unveiling of the "Chien Kung" (Sky Bow) IV air defense missile system, also known as the "Chien Kung" IV.

The indigenous system has officially entered the "hypersonic" realm, capable of intercepting enemy tactical ballistic missiles at astonishing speeds. It features an advanced integrated composite double-stage solid rocket and, for the first time in its terminal phase, incorporates "Thrust Vector Control (TVC)" technology. This ensures the missile can flexibly and precisely adjust its trajectory even in the thin atmosphere at high altitudes.

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The "Chien Kung" system includes: "Chien Kung" missile, mobile vertical launcher, tactical center vehicle, AESA radar vehicle.

Military and political sources indicate that the "Chien Kung" IV not only boasts impressive speed but also elevates Taiwan's air interception altitude to the "near space" of 70 kilometers, a substantial improvement over the current Sky Bow III. The system is equipped with an "Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA)" radar, developed with U.S. technical cooperation, providing powerful target identification and anti-electronic jamming capabilities. This radar will work in conjunction with existing Patriot and Sky Bow III missiles to form a layered, dense defensive network, positioning the "Chien Kung" IV as an indispensable outer layer of Taiwan's "Shield of Taiwan" defense plan.

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Maximum speed: Hypersonic. Warhead fragments use high-explosive fragmentation. Engine is a double-stage solid rocket, guidance system is mid-course inertial + radar uplink correction, terminal is active seeker guidance.

Despite its advanced capabilities, the mass production of the "Chien Kung" IV has faced significant budgetary hurdles. The initial plan for mass production, costing NT$36.1 billion for two systems and 128 missiles, was intended to be included in a special budget. However, this budget was drastically cut during legislative review, excluding the "Chien Kung" missile. Subsequent attempts to integrate it into the regular defense budget were also unsuccessful due to existing commitments and payment peaks for U.S. military procurements.

After several dramatic turns, the Executive Yuan and the Ministry of National Defense have decided to pursue a third path for this critical defense capability. The Ministry of National Defense's Directorate of Budget, Accounting and Statistics has confirmed that the remaining 10 unapproved military procurement cases, including the indigenous "Chien Kung" missile, will be resubmitted for review as "supplementary budget" items. The Executive Yuan is expected to discuss and approve this supplementary budget proposal as early as August 27, sending it to the Legislative Yuan. The outcome of this budget debate, crucial for the resilience of Taiwan's core air defense, is anticipated to reignite intense political conflict.

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Target classification and identification. Identification friend or foe. Electronic counter-countermeasures. Radar type is active phased array radar.