TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The military test-fired its domestically developed Land Sword II air defense missile Thursday as part of a multi-day joint precision weapons exercise at Jiupeng Military Base in Pingtung County.
The exercise also featured the Hsiung Sheng missile and Chien Hsiang loitering munition system, following Wednesday's opening phase, which included Patriot missile launches and other major weapons systems, per Liberty Times. The live-fire tests were designed to assess the military's long-range strike capabilities, air defense response, and overall combat readiness.
The Hsiung Sheng was launched first, followed by the Chien Hsiang and the Land Sword II, a land-based variant of the air-to-air Sky Sword II. The Land Sword II launch demonstrated the air defense forces' mobility and interception capabilities.
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) is scheduled to visit the Jiupeng base Friday to inspect the exercise, Liberty Times reported. The demonstration is expected to include live-fire tests of Tien Kung III, Hsiung Feng III, and Hsiung Feng II missiles, HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, Maverick missiles, loitering munitions, Altius-600M systems, and attack drones.
