Taiwan Deploys Hsiung Feng IIE Missile Launchers During China Army Live Fire Drills.

A launcher vehicle linked to Taiwan’s Hsiung Feng IIE land-attack cruise missile was spotted moving along the island’s east coast on December 31, according to Taiwanese media and open-source imagery. The movement comes as China’s People’s Liberation Army carried out large-scale live-fire exercises, highlighting Taiwan’s heightened readiness posture.

A vehicle believed to be associated with Taiwan’s Hsiung Feng IIE land-attack cruise missile was observed traveling along the island’s eastern road network late Tuesday, reportedly heading toward Taitung from the Hualien area. Taiwanese media reports, supported by analysis of images circulating on social media, linked the sighting to ongoing People’s Liberation Army live-fire drills around Taiwan, a period marked by sustained military pressure and political signaling from Beijing, according to regional defense observers.
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The HF-2E is assessed to have a baseline range of about 600 kilometers, while an extended-range Hsiung Sheng variant may exceed 1,200 kilometers, potentially placing military and industrial targets in eastern and central China, including areas near Shanghai and in Zhejiang Province, within reach. (Picture source: 東森新聞/ X account @RXRoy)

The video footage, widely shared on Facebook, shows a launcher mounted on a trailer traveling on a public road. Some captions accompanying the footage initially identified the vehicle as belonging to a Haifeng anti-ship missile brigade of the Republic of China Navy. The design of the containerized launcher and the specific configuration of the trailer bed closely match those seen in the rare images previously associated with the HF-2E land-attack cruise missile, a system distinct from the Hsiung Feng II and III anti-ship missiles.

The Hsiung Feng IIE, also known as the Brave Wind IIE, is a subsonic, ground-launched land-attack cruise missile developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology. It is the only variant in the Hsiung Feng family specifically designed for land-attack missions and is among Taiwan’s longest-range conventional strike systems. The program is believed to have begun around 2001 to address the limited reach of Taiwan’s earlier missile inventory, which was largely confined to targets along China’s coastal regions.

Technically, the HF-2E is approximately six meters long, with a body diameter of 0.50 meters, increasing to around 6.25 meters for the extended-range variant. Launch weight is estimated at roughly 980 kilograms for the standard version, while extended-range variants may carry payloads weighing between 400 and 450 kilograms. Propulsion consists of a solid-propellant booster for initial launch, followed by a locally developed, liquid-fueled turbojet engine that sustains subsonic cruise flight at an estimated speed of about 290 meters per second.

The missile’s range is generally assessed at around 600 kilometers for the baseline variant. An extended-range version, often referred to as Hsiung Sheng, is reported to be capable of reaching or exceeding 1,200 kilometers. Such a range would allow Taiwanese forces to hold at risk targets located in eastern and central China, including military and industrial facilities near Shanghai and within Zhejiang Province.

The HF-2E is believed to carry a single high-explosive, semi-armor-piercing warhead weighing approximately 200 to 225 kilograms. Open-source assessments also suggest the existence of specialized variants, including one optimized for attacking hardened bunkers and command centers, and another intended for strikes against airfield infrastructure, potentially employing submunitions to disable runways and related facilities.

Guidance for the HF-2E reportedly combines inertial navigation with GPS updates, supplemented by terrain contour matching technology to improve accuracy and enable sustained low-altitude flight intended to reduce radar detection. For the terminal phase, several assessments indicate the possible use of infrared imaging guidance, providing target discrimination and final-course correction. Some analysts estimate pre-terminal accuracy at approximately 15 meters circular error probable.

Despite its designation, the Hsiung Feng IIE does not appear to be derived from the Hsiung Feng II anti-ship missile, but instead follows a separate design lineage with conceptual similarities to the U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile. According to some sources, the HF-2E designation may have been chosen deliberately to obscure the true nature of the program, which aimed to provide Taiwan with a longer-range conventional strike capability.

The missile was reportedly test-fired for the first time in June 2005, followed by additional tests in 2007 and 2008, including trials of an extended-range version. The program initially encountered strong opposition from the United States, which at the time expressed concerns about Taiwan developing offensive strike capabilities. Despite these reservations, Taipei continued the program as China’s military modernization accelerated and the regional security environment evolved. Over time, U.S. concerns regarding Taiwan’s offensive missile programs appear to have diminished.

Low-rate initial production of the HF-2E is believed to have begun in 2009, with full-rate production starting around 2011, when the missile is generally assessed to have become operational. In 2018, Taiwanese media reported that the extended-range variant was nearing completion of its first production phase, with plans for at least 100 missiles funded by a budget estimated at approximately 440 million U.S. dollars. In January 2021, Taiwanese military officials stated that small numbers of the upgraded missiles had been deployed.

Operationally, the Hsiung Feng IIE is deployed on road-mobile, ground-based launchers mounted on trailers or specialized vehicles, providing flexibility in positioning and improved survivability. This mobility allows the system to be dispersed, frequently relocated, and concealed, complicating efforts by an adversary to target it preemptively. In this context, the recent observation of a launcher consistent with the HF-2E moving along Taiwan’s east coast during Chinese military exercises may indicate efforts to maintain readiness and reduce vulnerability.

At present, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has not publicly confirmed the identity of the system observed in the video. Nevertheless, the convergence of visual evidence, open-source analysis, and the broader strategic context supports the assessment that Taiwan continues to keep one of its most sensitive land-attack missile systems mobile, preserving a capability intended to impose costs on potential adversaries in the event of a major escalation.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group

Erwan Halna du Fretay is a graduate of a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience in the study of conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.