Frank Williams, Okinawa
Taiwan’s military is on schedule to finish its next-generation integrated air defense intelligence system by the end of this year, with plans to deploy the advanced network as early as next year pending approval of additional funding, a military source said.
The system merges two major domestic initiatives: the Huanzhan Project (寰展計畫), which unifies air defense intelligence across all branches of the armed forces, and the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology’s (NCSIST) Chiang Kung (“Strong Bow”) missile defense program.
According to the source, the Huanzhan Project will create an automated joint command-and-control network that links the army, navy, and air force, replacing the current fragmented, service-specific air defense setups with a seamless, real-time system.
The upgraded network will integrate data from U.S.-supplied Patriot missile systems with Taiwan’s indigenous Tien Kung (“Sky Bow”) and Tien Chien (“Sky Sword”) missiles. This will enable instant information sharing across military branches and provide the backbone for a comprehensive regional air defense architecture.
A key feature of the new system is an artificial intelligence-assisted decision-support tool capable of automatically assigning the most suitable interceptor missiles to counter incoming aerial threats in real time.
The multilayered defense strategy positions the Chiang Kung system as the outermost layer, designed to intercept tactical ballistic missiles at altitudes of up to 70 kilometers. The Tien Kung III will handle medium- to long-range threats, while the land-based Tien Chien II focuses on low- and medium-altitude targets. NCSIST has confirmed that the Chiang Kung system has successfully completed operational evaluations and is ready for deployment.
However, the project faces a funding hurdle. Opposition lawmakers recently slashed the proposed NT$36.1 billion (US$1.13 billion) special budget during legislative review, raising fears of delays. The Ministry of National Defense is now seeking to restore the funding through a supplementary budget to maintain the targeted deployment timeline for next year.
Officially known as the Phase II Huanwang Enhancement Program, the Huanzhan Project will serve as the digital backbone of Taiwan’s air defense network. It will connect missile batteries, radar stations, and command centers across the island into a unified, open-architecture platform compatible with weapons and sensors from different manufacturers and branches.
The system is designed to share radar data almost instantaneously and use AI to prioritize threats and recommend optimal responses. It will incorporate a wide array of assets, including Patriot PAC-3 MSE batteries, various Tien Kung variants, Stinger and Avenger systems, naval Standard Missiles, close-in weapon systems, the Leshan long-range early-warning radar, E-2K airborne early-warning aircraft, and other land- and sea-based radars.
In a significant step toward enhanced interoperability, Taiwan’s military selected the domestically developed Huanzhan system as the core network while signing a memorandum of understanding with U.S. defense giant Northrop Grumman. This partnership aims to incorporate elements of the company’s Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) to strengthen capabilities against ballistic missiles and hypersonic weapons.
Military officials emphasized that the Huanzhan platform, combined with its AI tools, will also be instrumental in coordinating defenses against low-altitude drone swarms. The distributed architecture is engineered for resilience, allowing regional command nodes to continue functioning independently even if parts of the network are damaged during a conflict.
The developments reflect Taiwan’s ongoing efforts to bolster its asymmetric defense capabilities amid growing regional tensions.
