Sky Sword

Sky Sword 1 (TC-1) missile was developed in the mid-1980s and revealed in May 1986, as Taiwan's first indigenous air-to-air missile.[1] The production of the missile started in 1991 and the air-to-air version entered ROCAF service in 1993. It bears a striking similarity to the American AIM-9 (also in Taiwanese service) and fulfills a similar role on the Indigenous Defense Fighter to the AIM-9 on the F-16. In 2017 NCSIST exhibited a variant of the TC-1 with a larger diameter motor.[6]

TC-1 missiles were employed during a 2019 training exercise off Taiwan’s east coast.[7]

Ground launched variant for use with Antelope air defence system.[8]

Developed for use with the Sea Oryx system. Has an improved seeker, data-link, and rocket motor.[9]

Development of the Sky Sword II (TC-2) family began during the 1990s.[2][10]

In 2017 a Sky Sword II launched by a F-CK-1 during a training exercise failed to ignite and fell into the sea.[14] In 2019 TC-1 and TC-2 models were among 117 missiles fired during a training exercise off Taiwan’s west coast.[15]

A ship-launched, surface-to-air version was later developed and designated TC-2N. It began development in 1994, and a ground-based test was first carried out against a low-flying drone in 1997. This development was revealed to the public in 2005 and the intention to make it compatible with vertical launch methods was later announced in 2006. The first ship-based launch was held in mid 2014.[16] In the naval role the TC-2N fills an air defense gap between the Phalanx CIWS and SM-2 systems[17] and with a range of 30km.[18]

The missile has all-weather capability, is equipped with a thrust-vectoring booster to increase its range as well as maneuverability during launch phase (although early ship-based launch trials were carried out without this feature), and can engage anti-ship missiles and aircraft. It also has folding control surfaces to be quad-packed into either above-deck oblique launchers or in-deck vertical launch systems.[16]

TC-2A is an anti-radiation missile, similar to US AGM-88 HARM. The TC-2A program began soon after the completion of the TC-2. It fills the requirement of the ROCAF for an Anti-Radiation Missile to arm the F-CK-1.[19] It is reported to be 3.593 meters long, 19 cm in diameter, weighs 184 kg (warhead weighs 22 kg), and with a range of 100 km. The passive radar seeker on the TC-2A has been reported as having a detection range of 92km.[20]

TC-2C is an advanced air-to-air version first tested in 2017 and intended to replace the standard TC-2. It features a number of incremental improvements including an improved rocket motor which allows an engagement range of 100km.[21]

The land based version of the TC-2N features the missile packaged in a sealed container-launcher.[22] NCSIST has exhibited a truck mounted version with four missile pods.[23] The TC-2 air-defense system was exhibited at International Defence Exhibition in Abu Dhabi with a reported canister length of 4m and an all up weight (combined canister and round) of 350kg. It reportedly has midcourse inertial guidance with data link and terminal active radar guidance and electronic counter-countermeasure (EECM) and protection, but a reported effective range of only 15km.[24]

Six batteries with 246 missiles were ordered in 2019.[25]

• AIM-9 Sidewinder
• RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile
• AAM-3
• AAM-5
• R.550 Magic
• MICA
• MAA-1 Piranha
• A-Darter
• Fatter
• R-73
• PL-9

• PL-12
• AAM-4
• Astra
• R-27
• R-77
• Python
• AIM-120 (and NASAMS)
• RIM-162 ESSM
• AGM-88 HARM
• AIM-7 Sparrow