Taiwan’s military has conducted the first live-fire test of its domestically developed Land Sword II surface-to-air missile, marking a significant step in the island’s efforts to strengthen its air defenses.
Troops from the 43rd and 58th Artillery Command fired three Land Sword II missiles within 30 minutes at a base in Pingtung County, successfully striking drone targets.
Colonel He Hsiang-i, deputy commander of the 43rd Artillery Command, said the drill aimed to validate unit readiness and training standards amid growing tensions with China.
Taiwan continues to brace for a potential confrontation with Beijing, which considers the island a breakaway province and has not ruled out using force to reclaim it.
The recent live-fire test was part of the Shen Gong military exercise, designed to improve inter-service coordination and rapid response capabilities in high-threat scenarios.
Land Sword II makes its live fire debut. This SAM system is capable of countering diverse aerial threats and significantly enhances force protection for #ROCArmy.#LandSwordII #SAM #ROCArmedForces pic.twitter.com/lH8rS9XJg1
— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC(Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) May 13, 2025
Filling a Key Defense Gap
Known locally as the TC-2, the Land Sword II is a ground-launched variant of the Sky Sword II air-to-air missile. It is set to replace the aging US-supplied MIM-72 Chaparral system.
Each Land Sword II unit includes four vehicles: a radar truck, a launcher with four missile pods, a command vehicle, and an ammunition carrier.
The missile has an operational range of 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) and can operate in adverse weather.
According to defense authorities in Taiwan, the Land Sword II addresses a key gap in the island’s layered air defense, targeting fast-moving aircraft, hostile drones, and incoming cruise missiles.
Developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, the missile is intended to complement existing systems like the Tien Kung III and the US-supplied Patriot PAC-3.
