TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan will conduct more tests for its Sea Oryx missile system after it faced issues during previous trials.
Military officials revealed on Saturday (Aug. 3) that another round of live-fire sea tests will be held this month, Liberty Times reported.
The Ministry of National Defense said it will extend the missile system project deadline to the end of 2024. The Navy will decide whether to proceed with procurement based on trial results.
The Sea Oryx, designed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, has three variants. The stand-alone version is to be fitted on small combat vessels and features a 12-cell launcher equipped with a small active phased array radar and an electro-optical sensor system.
The integrated version can be installed on medium to large vessels and includes a 24-cell launcher that relies entirely on the ship's combat system for target data and fire control. The mobile land-based version also has a 24-cell launcher but is paired with a radar unit.
This month’s tests center on the integrated version, which will be installed on the weapons test platform ship LCC-1 Kaohsiung.
The Sea Oryx is the last line of defense against enemy missiles and has an operational range of 15 kilometers. Its missile warheads use a new type of high-energy CL-20 explosive to enhance its lethality.
