Taiwan commissioned new supersonic missile

10.05.2011 Taiwanese Navy commissioned new supersonic anti-ship missile Hsiung Feng III, reports Defense News. This missile has reinforced several types of ships. As is expected, eight Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates and seven patrol boats to be armed with Hsiung Feng III.

In total, Taiwanese defense ministry is about to spend $413 mln on procurement of Hsiung Feng III. New missiles are capable to accelerate up to 2 Mach numbers (2,300 kph) and destroy targets at the range of up to 80 miles (about 148 km). Commissioning of new missiles is conducted as a counter to China's rising combat power.

As was earlier reported, Taiwan is about to start construction of new corvette in 2012 which is to join Taiwanese Navy in 2014. New ships will be built under stealth technology and armed with antiship cruise missiles Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III. According to Taiwanese deputy defense minister Lin Yu-pao, new corvettes would be a response on increasing capabilities of Chinese Navy.

At present, China repairs and upgrades aircraft-carrying cruiser Shi Lang (former Varyag) built under Project 1143.6 and bought from Ukraine in 1998. It has not been officially reported on the course of works so far. Earlier on, some experts assumed that sea trials of the ship may start in 2011. Chinese defense ministry intends to build a series of aircraft carriers on the basis of Varyag technology.