Local residents reported spotting a launcher carrying the secret Hsiung Feng IIE (HF-2E) cruise missile on public roads. The redeployment of this launcher is most likely linked to the latest Chinese military exercises, which have unfolded around the entire island.
The secrecy surrounding the HF-2E cruise missile stems from the fact that its development first became known in 2001, after which Taiwanese authorities deliberately avoided public statements about the system. The missile has never been displayed at military parades or defense exhibitions.
Read more: From 5,000 to 50,000 Drones Taiwan's $8B Plan to Stop China's Armada Inspired by Ukraine’s Experience
An additional layer of concealment appears to have been embedded even in its designation. The Hsiung Feng name traditionally refers to a family of anti-ship missiles, while the HF-2E, judging by its design, likely has little in common with them. In practice, it is an entirely new missile with a fundamentally different mission, deliberately named to appear as a routine modification of an existing system.
Despite being known for 25 years, the missile's external appearance was first observed only in 2023, when a photograph taken during nighttime training launches emerged. Although the image was heavily blurred, it nevertheless allowed analysts to gain a clearer understanding of the missile’s overall design.
The HF-2E is generally intended to deliver deep retaliatory strikes shortly after the initial waves of Chinese missile attacks. In terms of its role, characteristics, and overall design philosophy, the missile is widely regarded as a de facto analog of the U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile.
According to estimates, the HF-2E is capable of striking targets at ranges of 300–600 km in its standard configuration and 1,000–1,500 km in an enhanced version. For terminal effects, the missile is believed to be equipped with several types of warheads differing in weight and purpose. These reportedly include 227 kg and 500 kg warheads, as well as cluster munitions and a penetrating bunker-buster variant.
For guidance, the missile is likely equipped with an inertial navigation system and GPS. Reports have also suggested the possible use of a TERCOM-type guidance system, which correlates the terrain beneath the missile with an onboard digital map. In addition, the presence of an infrared imaging seeker for terminal guidance cannot be ruled out.
The HF-2E uses a solid-fuel booster for launch, after which a jet engine powers the missile during cruise flight. The missile's speed is subsonic, likely on the order of approximately 1,000 km/h. The enhanced variant of the HF-2E is believed to be designated Hsiung Sheng, indicating a gradual move away from the Hsiung Feng naming convention traditionally associated with anti-ship missiles.
The HF-2E launcher is painted white, carries no identifying markings, and is transported by what appears to be an ordinary civilian truck. Similar launchers are also used for the anti-ship missiles of the Hsiung Feng family.
Overall, the HF-2E is not a limited prototype system. The missile has reportedly been on combat duty since around 2008 and is produced in series. Even so, Taiwan has managed to keep detailed information about the system concealed. The missile was first visually confirmed only in 2023, and this deliberate partial secrecy has itself become an additional deterrence factor.
Read more: Why Taiwan Had to Wait Three Years Just to Order NASAMS, and How Much Longer Production Will Take
