TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) clarified Kestrel rockets’ capabilities on Friday (Nov. 8).
The Kestrel rocket is designed to disable the mobility of lightly armored vehicles and tanks by targeting caterpillar treads and tires, NCSIST said in a statement. It has an effective range of 400 meters and can penetrate up to 30 cm of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA). The rocket can be fitted with a special warhead designed for breaching concrete bunkers and buildings.
NCSIST said it began developing the Kestrel in 2008 to replace the Type 66, which had a range of 200 meters and could only penetrate 20 cm of armor. It added that a new Kestrel variant is in development that can pierce 50 cm of RHA, making it a viable threat to heavy tanks.
The institute emphasized that the military’s TOW 2B missile system, priced at NT$6.2 million (US$192,248) per unit, is available in limited quantities and is designated for targeting high-value armored vehicles. In contrast, the Kestrel rocket costs NT$100,000 each, allowing for mass production. This mixed approach meets the military's needs for asymmetric warfare, NCSIST said.
For this and next year, the Army set a budget of NT$596.2 million to procure 5,962 rockets, bringing its total firepower to over 10,000. Taiwan Marines and Coast Guard Administration personnel deployed on Dongsha Island are equipped with Kestrel rockets to enhance their area denial and anti-armor capabilities.