Hsiung Feng II

The HF-2 has ECCM capabilities and is deployed on the ROC Navy's and frigates, as well as at several land-based sites.

• Name — Hsiung Feng II 雄風二型 • Type — Surface-to-surface missile • Origin — Taiwan • Is Explosive — yes • Is Missile — yes • Service — Early 1990s-present • Used By — Republic of China Armed Forces • Designer — National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology • Variants — Air launched version without first stage rocket booster • Rate — 123 rounds/min • Vehicle Range — (Block 1) (Block 2) • Guidance — Inertial guidance midflight, terminal with dual active radar homing and infrared homing seekers • Launch Platform — Box launcher or aircraft

There are three major versions of HF-2 in service. The first to enter service is the ship-based HF-2, with 2 twin box launcher on destroyer DD-915 first as a trial vessel. Later all major surface combatant in RoCN, except the Knox, were equipped with 2 quad-launchers, plus the 7 World War II-era guided missile destroyers that was upgraded to WC3 standard, from the late 1980s to mid-1990s, had added a 1 quad-launcher by mid-1990s to give those air defense ships an anti-surface ability. An air-launched version appeared in the early 1990s. Carried by two AIDC AT-3B trainer/attacker and a single A-3 attacker, the small force poses little threat to the marine intruders due to its small quantity. However, the recent upgraded IDF (F-CK-1C/D) will add the capacity to carry and launch the HF-2, thus greatly enhance the air-to-surface capacity of RoCAF in future. The air launcher version of HF-2 carried by AT-3 is different from the one supposed carried by original IDF (F-CK-1A/B) prototype, due to differences in length of the HF-2 missile (better known as HF-2 Mark 3 and Mark 4), where the rocket designed for one aircraft cannot fit on another aircraft. Unknown if air-launched HF-2 program is continuing at this point. The land-launch version of the HF-2 is the most secretive one because of its relation with the land-attack version of HF-2E. Fixed base versions were produced first, and all major outlying islands of Taiwan were equipped with fortified HF-2 bases in the late 1990s, replacing old HF-1 bases. Fixed HF-1 bases in the main island were also being replaced with fixed HF-2 launchers, again in fortified positions. The mobile launcher version was accepted in 2005 and went to mass production in 2006. All mobile launchers, together with mobile command center (with data-link), mobile surface search radar and portable electric generators, were kept in harden shelters and being driven out when needed. The HF-2 mobile launchers, shown in 10 October 2007 parade, was designed to be able to carry both HF-2 and the new HF-3 AShM, by leaving room for the larger HF-3 missile boxes. Same was done to the /'s new HF-2 launchers after each frigate's major overhaul, starting 2001, that allows the launcher to carry larger HF-3 AShM, besides HF-2. The s (total 12 built) also are undergoing the same upgrade to carry two twin-mounted HF-2/3 anti-ship missiles. The s (total 31 built) carry two twin-mounted HF-2 anti-ship missiles. The s also carry four quad-mounted HF-2/HF-3 anti-ship missiles. A submarine-launched version was planned and designed in the mid-1990s, but nothing more was heard.

In late 2014, CSIST reportedly began the test-launching stage of an extended-range version of the HF-2, increasing range from 160 km to 250 km; the range increase was successfully achieved by February 2017. In 2019 mass production of an improved Block IIB was approved with production to be completed by 2023.

In November 2019 NCSIST tested a new short range anti-ship missile which while weighting significantly less than the Hsiung Feng II is said to have the same range. The test was conducted using NCSIST’s Glorious Star test ship. The provisional designation is HF-2B and production is scheduled to begin in 2021. The reported range of the HF-2B is 250 km.

• Primary function: Anti-ship missile, some prototypes land attack cruise missiles • Power plant: Solid propellant booster, turbojet in-flight • Range: (antiship) • Top speed: 0.85 Mach • Weight: 685 kg • Length: 4.8 m • Diameter: 40 cm • Warhead: 180 kg high-explosive warhead plus advanced technology self-forging fragmentation • Guidance: Inertial guidance midflight, terminal with dual active radar homing and infrared homing seekers • Date deployed: Early 1990s

In 2019 Sputnik News and other began propagating a conspiracy theory that the Argentinian submarine San Juan had been sunk by a Taiwanese HF-2 anti-ship missile used by international mercenaries working for multinational oil companies.

• Illustration — Covered ROCN Hsiung Feng II Anti-Ship Missile Launcher Truck Display at Zuoying Naval Base Ground • Illustration — Rear view of HF-2 launcher • Illustration — Two vessels of the Ching Chiang class at Keelung, Taiwan. The vessel on the right is armed with Hsiung Feng II • Illustration — Taiwan Coast Guard Anping launches a Hsiung Feng II anti-ship missiles • Illustration — Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III launchers aboard the ROCN (田單) • Illustration — HF-2, HF-3, and TC-2N with CS/MPQ-90 Bee Eye in background aboard PGG-621 Hsu Chiang • Illustration — ROCN Hsiung Feng II missiles in an underground missile launch bunker • Illustration — HF-2 and HF-3 aboard ROCN Cheng Ho (PFG2-1103)