Hsiung Feng III

Initial prototype versions of the missile used the design of an integrated rocket ramjet to achieve supersonic speeds. It uses a solid fuel main booster with two side-by-side solid-propellant jettisonable strap-on rocket boosters for initial acceleration and a liquid-fueled ramjet for sustained cruise. It also employs electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) capabilities allowing it to penetrate an enemy ship's defenses. The missile is believed to have an operating range of over It can be deployed on ships and mobile trailers. The instructions for missile launch can be issued by a command and control system for different platforms and different paths leading to saturation of a ship's defense system. == History ==

Development CSIST started a ramjet test vehicle program in 1994, and this project was later merged with the Hsiung Feng program. Flight testing of a prototype started in 1997. Operational testing and evaluation was started in 2004 and was completed by 2005, on board . According to the Jamestown Foundation the HF-3 was intended to counter the SS-N-22 Sunburn which the PRC had acquired with its Sovremennyy-class destroyers. Deployment The missile was officially revealed on October 10, 2007, at a military parade in Taipei, Taiwan. It has now been deployed aboard the ROC Navy's La Fayette/Kang Ding-class frigate, , Jin Chiang-class patrol gunboats, and on road mobile tractor trailers. Misfire accident On July 1, 2016, Chinchiang (PGG-610) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy accidentally fired a Hsiung Feng III missile during a training exercise. The missile traveled a distance of about before it hit a fishing boat The captain of the boat was killed and three crew members were injured. The Taiwan Ministry of National Defense stated that the warship's commander, senior arms officer and missile launch control sergeant had all failed to follow standard operating procedure. == Variants ==

Extended range The larger, longer-range Hsiung Feng III has been developed since the Presidency of Ma Ying-jeou, and was formally established under the name "Panlong Project" during the Presidency of Tsai Ing-wen. It is expected to produce extended-range missile with a range of 400 kilometers. NCSIST conducted multiple live-fire tests of the extended-range missile from 2017 to 2019, and the mass production budget will be approved in 2021. The extended-range missile of Han Kuang Exercise 41 was deployed for the first time. Air launched The development of an air-launched variant of the HF-3, dubbed the Hsiung Chih, was disclosed in 2022. The air launched variant in expected to be significantly lighter and to use the F-CK-1 as a launch platform. The air launched variant was spotted undergoing testing in 2025. ==Security concerns==

In late 2021 and early 2022, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) discovered equipment used in the development and testing of the Hsiung Feng III and other missiles used by Taiwan relied on mainland Chinese facilities for repair and maintenance, raising security concerns. NCSIST had shipped the instrument to its manufacturer in Switzerland and was not informed that the equipment would be sent to China. NCSIST performed check after receiving the equipment from China, which did not discover any malware or modifications. == Gallery ==

File:HF-3 ASCM fired from TEL system.jpg|Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missile launched from a missile launchers truck File:Keelung_Taiwan_Ship-ROCN-Ching-Chiang-01.jpg|Two vessels of the Ching Chiang class at Keelung, Taiwan. The vessel on the left is armed with Hsiung Feng III File:Hsiung_Feng_II_and_Hsiung_Feng_III_Anti-Ship_Missile_Launchers_aboard_on_Central_Upper_Deck_of_ROCN_Pan_Chao_(PFG2-1108)_20150316.jpg|Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missile launchers on the upper deck of ROCN Pan Chao File:中華民國110年國慶大會中展出之雄風三型飛彈發射車.jpg|Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missile launchers at 110th National Day File:Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III launchers of ROCN PFG2-1110 20190324.jpg|Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III launchers aboard the ROCN (田單) File:08.17 副總統出席「2017年臺北國際航太暨國防工業展覽會」開幕典禮，觀賞雄風三型反艦飛彈簡介 (35787049904).jpg|Display File:沱江軍艦射擊雄風三型飛彈.jpg|HF-3 launched by ROCN Tuo Chiang (PGG-618) File:沱江軍艦(PGG-618)實施「雄風三型反艦飛彈」實彈射擊，精準命中目標。.jpg|HF-3 launched by ROCN Tuo Chiang (PGG-618) File:01.03 總統勗勉海軍海鋒第一大隊暨主持「陸軍清泉崗營區完工啟用典禮」.jpg|HF-3 launch trucks, crews, and President Lai Ching-te in 2025 == See also ==