Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence has announced the successful live-fire testing of its newly developed “Land Sword II” air defence system, a domestically produced surface-to-air missile platform designed to counter modern aerial threats.
Conducted under the supervision of the Taiwanese military, the test showcased the system’s ability to intercept a range of targets, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and cruise missiles. The trial marks a key milestone in Taiwan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its indigenous defence capabilities amid evolving regional security challenges.
The Land Sword II system is intended to replace the ageing American-made MIM-72 Chaparral and provides short-range air defence using technology derived from Taiwan’s Sky Sword missile family. The system comprises four mobile units: a radar vehicle, a missile launcher, a command and control vehicle, and a munitions transport vehicle.
