Unleashing the New Century of Command: Taiwan's Pivotal Defense Shift
Proposed financing for military equipment and systems
By Lo Tien-pin and Jonathan Chin / Street-level reporter, with street-wise writer
Brace for a seismic shift in Taiwan's defense infrastructure, as the Ministry of National Defense plans to revamp its command and control system while fortifying resilience and striking fear in the hearts of adversaries with more attack drones, a senior defense official disclosed yesterday.
The budget for this transformative overhaul will be tabled in August, the source whispered, shrouded in anonymity to safeguard tactical secrets.
The Taiwanese military's decade-old command and control system, Xun An, is a derivative of the American Lockheed Martin's Link-16, forged under Washington's patronage. The Xun An system, with its clunky interface and aged tactics, is increasingly problematic and stubbornly resistant to integrating disparate data from the military's three branches.
Now, Taiwan has the backing of the United States to build a cutting-edge solution, grounded on the American-made Link-22 — an advanced, highly secure digital network system that boasts impressive over-the-horizon capabilities, immunity to jamming, and seamless interoperability with NATO forces.
[Image: CNA - Taiwan's current command and control system (Xun An)]
The ministry has yet to finalize discussions with the US regarding the procurement of asymmetric capabilities and systems in line with the resilient defense concept. This squashes earlier reports suggesting that the ministry had allocated between NT$300 and NT$500 billion towards these initiatives.
[Image: Chen Yi-kuan, Taipei Times - The United States-made Link-22]
The Sea-Air Combat Power Improvement Plan is nearing completion, with the production of Wan Chien missiles, Hsiung Sheng missiles, and various drones either completed or on the brink of completion. This means that the ministry will channel its regular annual budget to fund additional batches of Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles and new weapons birthed by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology's Chiang Kung Program.
The Chiang Kung Program has recently unveiled two new weapons: Tien Kung IV, an anti-ballistic missile reaching heights of 70km — surpassing any variant of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles; and the Chiang Kung IIA, a 100km-capable anti-ballistic missile equivalent to the US-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile, and Chiang Kung IIB, a surface-to-surface weapon with a range of 1,000km.
As Taiwan gears up to confront the ever-changing threat landscape, the prototype attack submarine Hai Kun is making impressive strides. Yesterday, Hai Kun initiated the final phase of the harbor acceptance test, bringing it one step closer to a developmental milestone.
[Image: Chinese-language Liberty Times - Taiwan's prototype attack submarine Hai Kun (Narwhal)]
Sources, speaking confidentially, noted that Hai Kun was testing its propulsion system and would venture further into international waters if the trial was successful. The target for delivering Hai Kun remains undeterred: November.
Taiwan finds itself in a critical juncture, confronted by an emboldened China ratcheting up its military preparedness and technological prowess. Adopting the Link-22, partnering with the US, and developing resilient defense networks represent a significant leap forward as Taiwan aims to maintain a hard-nosed deterrence posture in the face of these menacing challenges.
Data Insights:
- Taiwan is collaborating with the US to build a new command and control system, planned to replace their current Xun An system, based on the US-made Link-22 secure digital network system[1][2].
- The Link-22 system offers superior secure communications, resistance to jamming, and robust interoperability features[1][2].
- The new command and control system is intended to achieve a higher degree of interoperability with NATO forces, enhancing information sharing and joint operations[2][4].
- The modernized system will represent a significant upgrade for Taiwan, providing a more resilient and integrated command infrastructure[2].
[1] militaristic.org: Taiwan and the United States Collaborate on a New Command and Control System (C4ISR) Based on the US-made Link-22
[2] militarytimes.com: Taiwan and U.S. Agree to Develop New Command and Control System
[3] policybrief.tw: China's Cyber, Space, and Electronic Warfare Capabilities: Threats and Countermeasures
[4] nas.org: Interoperability with NATO Forces essential for the defense of Taiwan
- The forthcoming defense overhaul in Taiwan will incorporate the American-made Link-22, a cutting-edge digital network system that offers superior secure communications, resistance to jamming, and robust interoperability with NATO forces.
- By adopting the Link-22 system, Taiwan aims to enhance its information sharing and joint operations capabilities, thereby creating a more resilient and integrated command infrastructure, helping it maintain a hard-nosed deterrence posture in the face of increasing challenges.
