TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Army on Tuesday successfully fired three Sky Sword II missiles from a base in Pingtung.

The three missiles all hit their targets within half an hour, the Liberty Times reported. Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology developed the land-based missiles, also known as TC-2, which are more powerful than previous versions.

The company completed initial tests in 2014, with the Army replacing older air defense installations, including MIM-72 Chaparral missiles and LAADS radar systems, in 2020. The Army’s 48th and 53rd Artillery Command conducted Tuesday’s live-fire drills at the Jiupeng Base on the final day of a two-day exercise devoted to firing accuracy.

Each Sky Sword II system consists of four vehicles: a radar truck, a launch vehicle, a control center, and a transport vehicle. The missiles have a 15 km range and can operate in all types of weather and intercept fighter jets, drones, and cruise missiles.

Another part of Tuesday’s exercises was less successful, as a Fireant drone was blown off course by a strong crosswind and ended up in a pond next to the runway, per CNA.