27 May 2021
Taiwanese Navy to Deploy New Air Defense Missile System in August | Taiwan News
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Sea Sword II air defense missile system has successfully passed live fire tests, completed operational assessments and is ready for deployment to Taiwanese Navy ships by August.
The new system is the naval variant of the Sky Sword II and will be installed on the Navy’s newest ship, the Your Tchang, which is a Tuo Chiang class frigate. The ship is expected to be handed over to the Navy in July.
Sailors assigned to the Ta Chiang participated in the Sea Sword II trials on the Navy’s Cheng Kung-class frigates this month. The missile system performed well and met all naval combat requirements, Liberty Times cited as military sources say.
The Ta Chiang is designed to carry up to eight Hsiung Feng II subsonic anti-ship missiles and eight Hsiung Feng III supersonic anti-ship missiles. However, its air defense firepower was insufficient, prompting the Navy to change the payloads of subsequent Tuo Chiang-class ships to four Hsiung Feng III missiles and 12 Sea Sword II missiles.
The Sea Sword II is an active radar-guided medium-range air defense missile developed by the National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST). The new system’s multi-target capability allows it to simultaneously engage anti-ship missiles and aircraft, according to NCSIST.
The Ta Chiang (塔 江) is derivative of the Tawa River (塔瓦 溪) in Taitung County. The river basin is home to the indigenous Paiwan people, who have hunted in the area since ancient times and are known for their fearlessness and bravery in war, according to the Navy Command.
31 May 2021
Putin: Russia will send 20 new military forces to the border to counter NATO | World | New
The repressive regime of Vladimir Putin is enraged by the increasing number of flights of US strategic bombers near Russia’s borders. The deployments of NATO warships and the increasingly frequent and large-scale military exercises by members of the alliance near its border have also annoyed the Kremlin.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu asserted that such actions “destroy the international security system and force us to take appropriate countermeasures”.
He announced at a meeting with senior officials this week that the Russian military “will train another 20 units and formations in the Western Military District until the end of the year.”
Western Russian units have ordered around 2,000 new pieces of weaponry this year, he added.
The explosion came amid mounting tensions between Russia and the West – mainly over its actions in Ukraine.
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All of this happened in the context of Ukraine’s rapprochement with the West.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy previously asked Biden to support Kiev’s candidacy for NATO membership.
His comments sparked an uproar in Russia, which considers Ukraine to be within its sphere of influence as a former USSR stable mate.
The fact that such a large and powerful neighbor joins an organization created to counter Russian influence poses a bold threat to Russia and the way it sees itself.
Mr Putin, who is battling a stammered economy and declining popularity, could have seen this as a way to distract from his internal woes.
It also supported his long-held narrative that the world is against Russia, which is why the country needs a strong, uncompromising leader.
So far, it seems to be working – but if the West’s influence continues to grow in the region, it threatens to unleash all-out war.
Ukraine has already expressed frustration that its application for NATO membership is not processed more quickly.
But the United States and other NATO members will be aware that accelerating such a move would only bring the region closer to war.
So far both sides have pulled out of the intake, but with tensions continuing to rise, it’s unclear how long that will remain the case.
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