The Tien Chi is a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) developed by Taiwan. Its short 120 km range makes it incapable of striking China from mainland Taiwan, but it is likely forward-deployed to nearby island positions within striking distance.
Tien Chi at a Glance
- Originated from
- Taiwan
- Possessed by
- Taiwan
- Alternative names
- Sky Halberd / Sky Spear
- Class
- Short-range ballistic missile (SRBM)
- Basing
- Silo-based
- Length
- 8.0 m
- Diameter
- 0.41 m
- Launch weight
- 1,150 kg
- Payload
- Single warhead, 100-200 kg
- Propulsion
- Two-stage solid propellant
- Range
- 120 km
- Status
- Unknown
- In service
- 2001-Present
Tien Chi Development
The Tien Chi’s development history remains obscure. Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) reportedly manages the weapons project. Analysts have speculated that it could be derived from Taiwan’s Tien Kung 2 (Sky Bow 2) surface-to-air missile, but the Taiwan Defense Ministry has denied this theory.1 Although the missile was originally intended to have a range of 300 km while carrying a 500 kg payload, it is currently capable of a 120 km range while carrying a 100-200 kg payload. The missile was reportedly first test fired in May 1997.2
According to one analyst, it appears that development of the Hsiung Feng IIE land-attack cruise missile has supplanted the Tien Chi program in terms of priority.3
Specifications
The Tien Chi has a length of 8.0 m, a body diameter of 0.41 m, and a launch weight of approximately 1,150 kg. The missile incorporates inertial navigation and GPS technology, and has a reported range of 120 km while carrying an estimated 100-200 kg submunitions warhead. It is a two-staged missile and is solid-fueled.4
Service History
Unconfirmed reports have suggested that Taiwan has deployed 15 to 50 of the missiles on the Tungyin and Penghu Islands.5
Footnotes
- “Tien Chi,” in IHS Jane’s Weapons: Strategic 2015-2016, ed. James C. O’Halloran (United Kingdom: IHS, 2015), 102-103.
- “Taiwan: Overview,” Nuclear Threat Initiative, May 2015, http://www.nti.org/learn/countries/taiwan/; Missile Survey: Ballistic and Cruise Missiles of Selected Foreign Countries, CRS Report No. RL30427 (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, July 2005), 35, https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/RL30427/3.
- Jeffrey Lewis, “Red Bird Express,” Arms Control Wonk, January 25, 2015, http://www.armscontrolwonk.com/archive/207496/red-bird-express/.
- IHS Jane’s Weapons: Strategic, 102-103.
- IHS Jane’s Weapons: Strategic, 102-103.