1. Albatross II (looks pretty cool, surprisingly) 2. Chien Hsiang attack drones (optical guidance and GPS guidance versions). 3. Cardinal III drone (VTOL) 4. Taiwan switchblade
Albatross II drone looks more badass, worth noting that is operational radius is around 300 km, to me an indication of the range of HF-3ER, cos the Albatross I radius (150 km) is very compatible with range of HF-2/3 (~140 km).
Video:
Not much to say about the optical and GPS guided suicide munitions. It is a natural development, would be a waste to only have the anti-radiation version.
Cardinal III radius increased from 10 to 30 km. It appears that three motors can all change their vector.
Cardinal III video.
Taiwan Switchblade video:
Reportedly US Switchblade is proven to be not that efficient as previously expected. More evaluation is waiting for the Taiwan switchblade.
UDN found an angle to criticize the event, saying the loitering munition borrowed the translation 巡飛彈 from China, while Taiwan's own term for loitering munition should be 滯空攻擊彈藥.
video report: switchblade is the focus in media reports, though the other three are more important, IMO.
Albatross II vs Albatross I, many visual differences.
Contrary to previous reports that it is merely an modification based on Albatross I, the Albatross definitely grows bigger. It even has a fixed reconnaissance radar.
According to some reports, the Albatross II has finished tactual/combat test and evaluation, and hopefully could enter production phase next year. news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/…
In the test flight video, no radar dome yet. Possibly the radar is of same type used on the Teng Yun drone.
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I've been wanting to write something about Taiwan's low altitude short-range air defense. Here is a thread:
The backbone: after 2 years of delay, the Bee Eye PESA radar (roughly comparable to sentinel, Bee Eye's competitor) passed evaluation in early 2000s. 1/
First order placed in 2011, as of 2022, a total of 34 ordered (including those come with land-based TC-2 SAMs & excluding navy orders). 2/
The radar has a nominal range of 54 km (5 m2 RCS), we can imagine the coverage of ~30 such radars would provide by 2026 (several radars will be stationed in off-shore islands).3/
The "new type" IRBM. If true, I am not sure about its point. Two directional gimbal already realized on HS-15. Getting rid of 4 smaller control engines = loss in total thrust and also needs additional control unit for roll. (single chamber cant do roll).
either through jet of (exhaust) gas, or additional roll engines. Not that you cant do it (typical example LM-6 and Thor), but since you get your nice little verniers, why bother at all.
that is, of course, if the photos were not being manipulated to create such confusion.
Finally Taiwan's light frigate (2000-2500 tons) is officially budgeted into 2023 defense spending. I've followed the rumor for almost a year. A short thread on why it is important for TW's defense.
TW navy lists its combat vessels in roughly three categories:
- Frigates/destroyers above 3000 tons - Class I ships
- Vessels below 3000 tons - Class II ships
- missile boats and patrol boats - Class III ships
Until the 80s, Class II ships, mostly old WWII US hulls, have been the workhorse of the navy, or "taxi at sea," playing the most active role with diverse missions.
Taiwan Navy will spend about 100 million USD and 11 years to upgrade its OTO 76 mm guns with STRALES system and DART munitions, according to the 2023 defense budget news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/…
sorry, roughly 330 million USD.
meanwhile, army to spend 236 million USD to replace the 750 hp engine of its 400+ M60A3 TTS tanks with 1000 hp engines. NCSIST has also been experimenting on the upgrade of the fire control system of the tanks. news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/…
So many thanks to @AkachiYousoro for his tip, I think we have the first footage of the failed April 2012 Unha (KMS-3) launch! Never have i seen such beautiful close up frames! Followings are reasons for April 2012 launch (not 2009):
Rockets in April 2012 launch and 2009 launch have small fins, unlike the December 2012 and 2016 rockets (bigger fins). This leaves us two possibilities: April 2012 or 2009 footage.
2/ camera positions are different, but both sites are mountainous. the 2009 east sea site seems to be more flat (pic 3).
i'm posting some pics about NK tracked chassis cos i just finished categorizing some folders .... first is the light chassis VT-323, the north korean type 63 with a lot of variants. 1) APC...
VT-323, 2) anti-tank guns... and mortar (pic 3,4)?