The Yun Feng is a surface-to-surface, supersonic cruise missile. It is one of the few Taiwanese strategic assets designed to reach targets deep in northern and central China.1
Yun Feng at a Glance
- Originated from
- Taiwan
- Possessed by
- Taiwan
- Alternative name
- Cloud Peak, Sea Bow, Sky Bow 3
- Class
- Supersonic land-attack cruise missile
- Basing
- Ground-launched
- Payload
- 225 kg, Semi-armor piercing High Explosive, Fragmentation
- Propulsion
- Ramjet engine with solid-fueled booster
- Range
- 1,200 km (extended range variant – 2,000 km)
- Speed
- 1,030 m/s
- Status
- In development
- In service
- N/A
Yun Feng Development
Following the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, Taiwan began developing the Yun Feng missile in secret, concealing flight tests within the Hsiung Feng III test program to avoid public scrutiny. Media reports of the missile program surfaced much later in December 2012. The missile was developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST).2
The Yun Feng’s extended range had made it controversial among Taiwan analysts. Analysts caution that the missile is inappropriate given Taiwan’s defensive posture and China’s advanced air defense capabilities, and could negatively impact Taiwan’s relations with the United States.3
Taiwan reportedly flight-tested the Yun Feng along with various other missiles and rockets in April 2020.4
Specifications
The standard Yun Feng is believed to have a range of 1,200 km, but an extended version also in development has a reported range of 2,000 km.5 The missile uses a ramjet engine which allows it to travel at supersonic speeds, reportedly reaching a maximum of 1,030 m/s.6
Service History
The Yun Feng became operational in 2014. NCSIST reportedly began producing a first batch of 20 missiles and 10 mobile launchers in August 2019.7
Footnotes
- “Yunfeng,” in IHS Jane’s Weapons: Strategic 2015-2016, ed. James C. O’Halloran (United Kingdom: IHS, 2015), 208.
- “Taiwan: Missile,” Nuclear Threat Initiative, June 2015, http://www.nti.org/learn/countries/taiwan/delivery-systems/.
- J. Michael Cole, “To Terminate or Not? Taiwan’s ‘Cloud Peak’ Medium-Range Missile Program,” The News Lens, September 21, 2016, https://international.thenewslens.com/article/49674.
- Masao Dahlgren, “Taiwan Tests Cruise, Surface-to-Air Missiles,” Missile Threat, Center for Strategic and International Studies, April 28, 2020, last modified April 28, 2020, https://missilethreat.csis.org/taiwan-tests-cruise-surface-to-air-missiles/.
- “Taiwan’s upgraded ‘Cloud Peak’ missiles could reach Beijing,” Taiwan News, January 25, 2018, https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3349525.
- IHS Jane’s Weapons: Strategic 2015-2016, 208.
- “Exclusive: Yun Feng Intermediate-Range Missile will be mass-produced in 2019, and about 20 will be deployed in North and Central to directly attack Beijing,” Up Media, October 29, 2018, https://www.upmedia.mg/news_info.php?SerialNo=50887%20%E9%9B%B2%E5%B3%B0%E4%B8%AD%E7%A8%8B%E9%A3%9B%E5%BD%882019%E5%B9%B4%E9%87%8F%E7%94%A2%E6%A9%9F%E5%8B%95%E9%83%A8%E7%BD%B2%E5%8C%97%E3%80%81%E4%B8%AD%E9%83%A8%E7%B4%8420%E6%9E%9A%E7%9B%B4%E6%94%BB%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC.