Americans report successful testing of Harpoon HCDS coastal anti-ship missile system, manufactured under contract for Taiwan (Republic of China), needed for strengthening defense against China.
Contract for this weapons supply was concluded three years ago. The very fact American military is testing it, while in reality Taiwanese missile operators will fire from it, quite visually shows U.S. policy vector on deterring PRC in Pacific region.
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More specifically, Naval News publication reports fact of first successful Harpoon HCDS test firing stage for Taiwan (Republic of China) with U.S. military participation.
Currently Taiwan is only current Harpoon HCDS customer, additionally underlining importance of successfully conducted tests. At same time emphasized is second testing stage lies ahead, only upon completion of which launchers and missiles will be delivered to customer, meaning Republic of China. Although this weapons is needed literally yesterday, given constant PRC threat level.
Separately emphasized is this involves Harpoon HCDS ordered in U.S. for Taiwan within April 2023 contract worth $2.3 billion, providing for delivery of 100 mobile launchers and 400 anti-ship missiles for them.
Interesting detail manifests in that launchers manufactured under this contract for Taiwan will be placed on HEMTT chassis, unlike previous configuration providing for launcher placement on trailer.
By current calculations, if all plans are fulfilled, Taiwan by 2029 will have at its disposal as many as 1,900 anti-ship missiles. However this involves not only American Harpoon deliveries but also domestically-produced HF-2 and HF-3 anti-ship missiles.
Defense Express notes in this case U.S. Pacific region policy vector manifests, under which they prefer for now to avoid head-on collision with China, instead concentrating resources on supporting their partners and allies. However, significant delays in actual delivery execution timelines are observed, as manifested for example in F-16 story for Taiwan.
For illustration one can also recall March 2025 example, when Japan for first time in history purchased $200 million in secret equipment from U.S. for its hypersonic missiles.
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