TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Army has budgeted NT$1.44 billion (US$45.2 million) to convert civilian-style delivery vehicles into disguised launch platforms for Hellfire missiles to counter amphibious assaults.
The procurement is included in the Army’s 2027 defense budget and will be carried out through the Ministry of National Defense’s Armaments Bureau Production and Manufacturing Center, per Liberty Times. The system is designed to blend into Taiwan’s road network and logistics centers in peacetime, then be deployed against enemy forces in a conflict.
The system integrates AGM-114 Hellfire anti-armor missiles, which are traditionally launched from attack helicopters such as the AH-64 Apache and AH-1 Cobra, into commercial-style cargo trucks. The Hellfire has an effective range of about 8 kilometers, while the ground-based system uses modified fire-control and targeting systems to support launches from hidden locations.
The Armaments Bureau's 209th Factory and the Army Aviation Maintenance Depot jointly developed the system, Liberty Times reported. The modifications address challenges associated with low-level ground launches, including obstructions from vegetation, buildings, and uneven terrain.
The system is primarily intended to counter amphibious assaults as part of an asymmetric defense strategy, according to Liberty Times. Its civilian appearance is intended to make it more difficult for surveillance satellites and drones to distinguish the vehicles from ordinary commercial traffic.
The Armaments Bureau has also indicated the system could potentially be adapted for battlefield air defense against low-flying helicopters and slower unmanned aircraft.
