Testing of Tien Chien II missiles on frigates on schedule - Ministry

TAIPEI, -- Deputy Defense Minister Kao Tien-chung told lawmakers Wednesday that test firing of the Tien Chien (Sky Sword) II missiles is on track, having been fired from Knox-class destroyers and with testing on Lafayette-class frigates moving forward.

The radar-guided missile was developed by Taiwan's military-run Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology during the 1990s for use as air-to-air missiles in the Air Force.

Kao spoke about the ship-launched variant of the Tien Chien II after Legislator Lin Yu-fang of the ruling Kuomintang raised concerns that the Chaparral missiles and radar systems of Taiwan's Lafayettes are out of date and should be phased out.

The deputy minister assured that test firing of Tien Chien II on the Lafayettes is on schedule, and said there are no plans on what to do with the aging Chaparrel missiles following their removal.

Lin suggested the older missile systems be moved to Taiping Island, a Taiwan-controlled island in the disputed South China Sea, to replace the anti-air missiles that used to be there.

Defense Minister Yen Ming, also present at the Legislature, thanked Lin for his suggestion and said his ministry would consider it.