TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s domestically developed Strong Bow missile, capable of intercepting targets at altitudes of up to 70 kilometers, has entered preparations for mass production as part of President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) T-Dome defense plan.

Military sources said Tuesday that the Strong Bow missile system will be included in Lai’s NT$1.25 trillion (US$35.64 billion) special defense budget, with procurement expected to cover two system sets and at least 128 missiles, per Liberty Times. Including launcher vehicles and related support equipment, the total projected cost is estimated at NT$36.6 billion.

Transcom, a domestic developer of RF and microwave communication chips and modules, is one of the key players in the Sky Bow and Strong Bow missile programs. During an investor briefing late last year, the company outlined mass production timelines for the Sky Bow III, Sky Bow IV (Strong Bow), and Sky Bow V missiles.

Orders for Sky Bow III- and Sky Bow IV-related equipment could arrive as early as March this year. A sharp increase in production capacity is expected next year.

The Ministry of National Defense’s recently released procurement list details dozens of requirements tied to the Strong Bow missile system, including components and vehicle bodies for launcher units. The system is listed as a “medium-tier anti-tactical ballistic missile system,” which military sources confirmed refers to the domestically developed Strong Bow, also known as Sky Bow IV.

Military sources said the Sky Bow III missile has an interception altitude of about 35 km, while the Sky Bow IV doubles that to 70 km, placing it at the top tier of Taiwan’s interceptor systems. The Sky Bow V missile, also known as the Strong Bow II and currently under research and testing by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, is designed for an interception altitude of up to 100 km.

Several live-fire tests were conducted in the fourth quarter of last year. The system is expected to enter operational evaluation this year, with limited initial production possible if testing meets expectations.

However, on Jan. 27, KMT and TPP legislators blocked review of the special budget for the 10th time. Instead, they voted to review a draft defense budget proposed by the TPP at NT$400 billion, creating uncertainty over how much funding the legislature will ultimately approve.