Taiwan Army to Build Dedicated Test Facility for Land Sword II Missiles

Taiwan’s army announced a budget of more than NT$295 million to create a stand-alone testing centre for the Land Sword II surface-to-air missile, marking a shift toward fully self-sufficient air-defence logistics. The National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology will oversee refurbishment of existing sites, installation of temperature- and humidity-controlled chambers, safety infrastructure and acquisition of dedicated test gear capable of simulating radar signals and mid-course guidance.

Historically, the navy’s test ship Kaohsiung provided launch ignition and seeker verification, but a senior official confirmed that naval support will cease after 2028. The move dovetails with a NT$3.65 billion, five-year procurement plan that will bring in more Land Sword II missiles and reduce reload times to under ten minutes. Once operational, the facility will enable immediate intake testing of new missiles and streamline life-extension and overhaul processes for existing units, bolstering Taiwan’s mobile air-defence readiness.