TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Air Force air defense units conducted a Patriot missile reload drill in northern Taiwan on Tuesday.
During the drill, units simulated munition depletion, Military News Agency reported. The commanding officer issued an order to replenish missiles, and troops quickly deployed missile transport vehicles into position and conducted equipment checks.
Under the direction of a signal officer, crews worked together to unload and reload missiles and conduct equipment inspections.
The military plans to use approximately NT$20 billion (US$636.9 million) in project funds to procure 102 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles. The advanced Patriot missiles, along with Taiwan’s domestically produced Sky Bow III and Strong Bow missiles, will form a “high–low mix” air defense network, dubbed the T-Dome.
Military sources said the MSE missiles have a more powerful dual-pulse solid-rocket motor than Taiwan’s current PAC-3 Cost Reduction Initiative missiles. This boosts intercept altitude up to nearly 60 kilometers, while also extending range, they said. These advanced missiles would allow Taiwan to counter China’s Dongfeng ballistic missiles.
