Cruise Missile
Hsiung Feng III
The Hsiung Feng III is a supersonic anti-ship missile developed by Taiwan’s NCSIST and in service since 2007. Powered by an integral rocket-ramjet, it is a core part of Taiwan’s coastal defence and is operated by Taiwan alone.
Taiwan|NCSIST (Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology)Overview
The Hsiung Feng III (“Brave Wind”) was developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology as the successor to the subsonic HF-II. Test firings began in 2004 and the missile entered service in 2007. An integral rocket-ramjet gives speeds of Mach 2 and above, with some sources citing up to Mach 3. The missile is about 6.1 m long and weighs 1,500 kg, with a warhead of roughly 225 kg. Guidance uses an INS, GPS and a dual-mode active radar and imaging infrared seeker.
Range is about 150 km in the standard version, and extended-range claims go up to 400 km. The HF-III is carried by Tuo Jiang-class corvettes and Cheng Kung-class frigates, and by truck-mounted launchers in coastal batteries. Taiwan is the only operator and has not exported it. Taiwan’s defence ministry has funded further mass production, reportedly more than 100 missiles from 2022–2023. In July 2016 a navy ship fired one in error, killing a fisherman.
Key Specifications
Variants
The ship-launched HF-III arms Taiwan’s Tuo Jiang-class corvettes and Cheng Kung-class frigates.
The land-based version uses a truck-mounted launcher and supports Taiwan’s coastal-defence batteries.
The extended-range HF-III ER is credited with a reach of up to 400 km, though that figure is a claim.
Operators
TaiwanFrequently Asked Questions
How fast is the Hsiung Feng III?
The Hsiung Feng III flies at roughly Mach 2 at cruise, with sources citing up to Mach 3. It uses an integral rocket-ramjet engine. That speed makes it a supersonic missile, harder for ship defences to intercept than subsonic types.
What is the range of the Hsiung Feng III?
The Hsiung Feng III has a range of about 150 km in its standard version. An extended-range variant is claimed to reach up to 400 km, though this figure has not been independently confirmed.
Which countries use the Hsiung Feng III?
Only Taiwan operates the Hsiung Feng III. The missile has not been exported. It is carried by Tuo Jiang-class corvettes, Cheng Kung-class frigates and truck-mounted coastal launchers, forming a core part of Taiwan’s coastal defence.
Hsiung Feng III vs YJ-12: which is better?
The Hsiung Feng III and China’s YJ-12 are both supersonic anti-ship missiles. The YJ-12 flies faster, at about Mach 3, with a range up to 400 km, while the HF-III cruises near Mach 2 and carries a 225 kg warhead. No direct combat comparison exists.
What happened in the 2016 Hsiung Feng III accident?
On 1 July 2016 a Taiwanese navy ship fired a Hsiung Feng III by mistake during a drill, killing a fisherman and damaging a fishing boat near Penghu. The incident is the missile’s best-known failure and involved human error, not a design fault.
Who makes the Hsiung Feng III?
The Hsiung Feng III is made by NCSIST, Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology. The institute developed it as a successor to the subsonic Hsiung Feng II, with the first tests in 2004 and service entry in 2007.
