As part of a new step toward acquiring advanced defensive and deterrent capabilities, Taiwanese Air Force F-CK-1 Ching-Kuo fighter jets recently carried out tests simulating the launch of the latest version of the Hsiung Feng III (HF-3) anti-ship missile, designed for use from airborne platforms. These tests took place off the coast of Taitung and were part of a flight-testing schedule aimed at moving the program from the simulation phase to live-fire trials with operational missiles, in view of future serial production.
Although the project to equip F-CK-1 fighters with new anti-surface combat capabilities experienced several delays, the recent test marked a further step in the integration process that began in 2022. The program’s objective is to develop and produce, on a small scale within six years, an air-to-surface variant of the HF-3 missile. The main goal is to miniaturize and compact the missile, keeping its length under 5.5 meters, its diameter below 36 cm, and its weight under 900 kilograms.
As part of this missile’s development path, in February of this year a series of images from Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) revealed, for the first time, a Taiwanese Air Force (ROCAF) AIDC F-CK-1 fighter equipped with the supersonic HF-3 anti-ship missile. In the photo, which went viral on social media, a single missile could be seen under one of the aircraft’s wings, featuring inscriptions and positioning marks indicating its use for testing and evaluation.
Military sources told local media that this stage marks the transition from dummy missiles to live-fire testing. In the second half of the year, trials are expected with the missile mounted on fighters, including air-launched attacks on naval targets, as well as test and live combat missile strikes against target ships. If results are positive, Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) could begin small-scale production, funded by the 2026 defense budget.
The Hsiung Feng III is an anti-surface missile, commonly nicknamed the “Carrier Killer.” It is characterized by supersonic speed, a range of up to 400 kilometers, and a 225-kilogram warhead. It uses a ramjet engine, which requires an external booster to reach the ignition speed. However, it is not yet confirmed whether this feature is present in the air-launched version.
The HF-3 was first tested in 1997 and began deployment on Taiwan’s Kang Ding– and Cheng Kung-class frigates in 2007. It also equips the Taiwanese Navy’s Tuo Chiang-class corvettes, alongside other missile systems.
With a current range of between 150 km and 400 km, depending on the variant, the missile is in serial production to reinforce the island’s defensive capabilities—particularly those of Taiwan’s Navy coastal defense units and warships. Its development, led by CSIST, is part of Taiwan’s strategy to deter the constant military pressure and incursions from China that threaten the island’s security and governance.
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