TAIPEI — New equipment was exhibited during today’s pre-show press tour of the 2015 Taiwan Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE), being held from August 13-16 in Taipei, Taiwan. During the press tour, Taiwan military officials gave detailed presentations of new systems.
Two new naval weapon systems developed by the military-run Chung-shan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST) were on exhibit: the Sea Oryx short-range air defense missile system and the TC-2N medium-range air defense missile system. CSIST is responsible for all indigenous missile and radar development.
The Sea Oryx system can fire 8 or 16 ready-to-fire missiles from a pivotal multi-axis launcher. It can defend against anti-ship missiles, helicopters, and low flying fixed-wing targets. The missile is an upgraded variant of the short-range Tien Chien-1 (Sky Sword) missile used by air force's Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) aircraft and the army's ground-based mobile Antelope air defense system. The missile incorporates an imaging infrared seeker, inertial navigation system, data-link system and an enhance rocket motor. The Sea Oryx is operated in the lock-on-after-launch mode to reduce engagement reaction time.
The TC-2N system can used as a vertical or incline missile launch system and is roughly the same size as the US-built AIM-120 medium range air defense missile. Like the Sea Oynx, the TC-2N is based on CSIST's Tien Chien-2, with "N" representing navy. The Tien Chien-2 was originally designed for the IDF. The TC-2N has an active radar guided missile with a booster and a thrust vector controller in the rear.
CSIST showed off the first prototype of its medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This is the largest UAV ever produced by CSIST. There were no details regarding performance, but the structure is remarkably similar to the MQ-9 Reaper with the same tail configuration and rear propeller. CSIST would only state that the UAV was an all-composite construction capable of multi-payloads, including intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and coastal patrol.
CSIST's coastal defense rocket system was on exhibit for the first time. The fixed-emplacement weapon has an engage-on-remote system and is mounted on a turret. At a maximum range of 1.5 km, the system can be deployed along the shore and critical defense locations on the outlying islands.
CSIST's coastal defense rocket system is a fixed-emplacement weapon with an engage-on-remote system.
Photo Credit: Wendell Minnick/Staff
A new target drone was unveiled by CSIST. The SPARK jet-powered target drone has a range of 100 km and can sustain a level flight speed of 330 knots. It is reusable with a parachute, and the avionics system includes digital autopilot, data link, GPS and autonomous waypoint navigation. It can be pneumatically launched from land or a ship.
The military also provided new exhibits by the individual arsenals, including the 202, 205 and 209 Arsenal.
The 209 displayed the eight-wheeled CM-32 Clouded Leopard armored infantry fighting vehicle again this year, but now with a new 360-degree closed-circuit TV CCTV camera sensor system capable of detecting close quarter movement around the vehicle, as well as allowing the driver to maneuver the vehicle during combat. The system is not infrared.
The 205 exhibited its new 9mm XT104 submachine gun. The 2.83 kg weapon has a 30 round magazine with a fire rate of 500-800 rounds per minute. The weapon is a counterforce design to improve control problems during high speed shot mode, thus achieving high stability and low recoil.
The 202 displayed a new advanced mobile mortar system compatible with both 81mm and 120mm gun tubes. It can be mounted inside the mortar carrier variant of the Clouded Leopard. The semi-automatic function allows 4-8 rounds.
The XT104 submachine gun has a 30 round magazine with a fire rate of 500-800 rounds per minute.
Photo Credit: Wendell Minnick/Staff
The biennial show will also have exhibits from the local and foreign commercial defense sector, such as the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation, Lockheed Martin and Rockwell Collins.
