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Taiwan announces the development of a next-generation hypersonic missile capable of reaching 6 times the speed of sound, strengthening its national defense.
Taiwan has taken a strategic step in its national defense by developing an advanced hypersonic missile, named Qingtian. With the ability to reach speeds of Mach 6, the equivalent of six times the speed of sound, the weaponry places the country in a select group of nations that possess this cutting-edge military technology.
The announcement comes amid rising tensions with China, which considers Taiwan a rogue province and has stepped up actions in region of the Indo-Pacific.
Qingtian Missile Details
According to information released by Liberty Time Net, the Qingtian is already in mass production and will be integrated into the Taiwanese military soon.
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The missile has an impressive range of over 2.000 kilometers, allowing it to hit strategic targets in distant regions.
The development of Qingtian was led by National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), with the support of “National Defense Advanced Technology Research Plan” from the Ministry of National Defense of Taiwan.
Sources confirm that some units have already been delivered to the country's air force missile brigades, signaling that the project is advanced and operational.
In addition, Taiwan is in talks with Czech and American companies to create mobile launchers that would increase the flexibility of deploying the weapon.
Among the models under evaluation are the Tatra Force 12×12 trucks, known for their adaptability to mountainous terrain, and the Oshkosh M983, an American model with high performance in adverse environments.
Technological background
Qingtian is not Taiwan's first hypersonic missile project. The new technology builds on the Yunfeng and Yungeng II programs, which have already delivered notable advances in the past.
In 2014, the country launched the Yun Feng missile, a supersonic cruise missile with a range of 1.200 km. An extended-range variant was later developed, exceeding 2.000 km, which paved the way for the Qingtian.
The Yun Feng used a ramjet engine with solid fuel propellant, technology that also influenced the design of the new hypersonic missile.
The Qingtian's Mach 6 speed represents a substantial advancement, making it extremely difficult for enemy air defense systems to track or intercept it.
Regional context and the threat from China
Escalating tensions between Taiwan and China have been a major driver of the development of advanced weapons.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and frequently conducts military exercises near the island.
Furthermore, Beijing's diplomatic and economic pressure on the international community to isolate Taiwan has intensified the country's quest for military autonomy.
Hypersonic technology is seen as a strategic response to these threats. Unlike traditional missiles, hypersonic weapons have the ability to reach altitudes beyond the reach of most defense systems before descending rapidly toward their target, making any countermeasure extremely difficult.
In 2024, Taiwan announced the development of scramjet engines, supersonic combustion technology that promises to further boost its military capabilities.
This type of engine is essential for hypersonic weapons due to its efficiency at high speeds and ability to operate at high altitudes.
The global hypersonic weapons landscape
The development of hypersonic weapons is not exclusive to Taiwan. The United States, Russia, China and India also have advanced programs in this area.
In December 2024, the United States Army and Navy successfully tested the Dark Eagle hypersonic missile, with a range of 1.725 miles (about 2.780 km).
The event marked a significant advance in the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) program, cementing the US as one of the leading powers in hypersonic technology.
China, for its part, has shown rapid progress, integrating hypersonic missiles into its military arsenal in recent years. Russia also stands out with the Avangard missile, which has already been successfully tested and is in operation.
India most recently successfully tested a hypersonic weapon with a range of 930 miles (approximately 1.500 km), showing that the global landscape is rapidly evolving.
