《TAIPEI TIMES》Official outlines plans for Stinger missiles from US

Soldiers fired Stinger missiles during training at an undisclosed location in July. Photo courtesy of Military News Service

First tranche: Military plans to allocate weapons to Army to defend Taiwan mainland and outlying islands, and Marine Corps, officials say

By Lo Tien-pin and Jonathan Chin/Staff reporters, additional staff writers

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Taiwan will receive 500 Stinger missiles and 178 launchers from the United States before the end of the year. This is the first batch of a two-phase procurement plan, bringing the total to 2,621 missiles and 763 launchers, a defense official said yesterday on condition of anonymity.

These man-portable missiles will play a key role in the country's air defense capabilities, the source said.

The Army plans to deploy 2,235 missiles and 657 launchers to defend Taiwan's mainland and outlying islands, they said, citing military documents as evidence.

The Navy was allocated 295 missiles and 85 launchers to equip Marines and some surface ships that lack anti-aircraft firepower, they said.

Another 91 missiles and 21 launchers will be issued to the military and police responsible for defending Taipei and surrounding areas, the source added.

The United States delivered a separate batch of Stinger missiles as part of a defense assistance package, the source said, adding that the weapons had been used by military and police forces in the past two years.

Military police have tested firing the Stinger system and used it in exercises involving Taipei MRT stations and the Wanban Bridge (Wanban Bridge).

In August, the Marine Corps deployed a formation of four M109 attack boats equipped with Stinger air defense systems and Javelin guided anti-tank missiles during an Asymmetric Warfare coastal defense exercise.

Stinger missiles are battlefield-tested and have a proven performance record in the Soviet war in Afghanistan and Russia's current war with Ukraine.

The Stinger is a fire-and-forget weapon primarily used to hit aircraft. The system weighs 15.7 kilograms and can be carried by a single infantry soldier. Under ideal conditions, it can hit air targets at a distance of up to 8,000 meters. Actual range is usually more limited, around 4,800 meters.

The most modern versions of the Stinger missile use dual-spectrum infrared and ultraviolet seeker modules to defeat the countermeasures used by aircraft to deploy flash grenades against heat-seeking missiles.

News source: TAIPEI TIMES

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