Taiwan Converts Coast Guard Cutters for Antiship Role

Last week, Taiwan's coast guard demonstrated its ability to convert its coastal patrol vessels into antiship missile launchers, a significant enhancement to its defensive capabilities. The Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (TCGA) conducted a live-fire exercise on Friday, September 18, with the Anping-class cutter Qijin launching a locally-built Hsiung Feng III (HF-3) supersonic anti-ship missile at a decommissioned Taiwan Navy frigate. The missile was launched from a distance of about 50 nautical miles, successfully striking the target during a sinking exercise.

Missile Tests and Conversion Capabilities

The Qijin, a high-speed catamaran, was one of 12 ships in the Anping-class fleet. During the exercise, it successfully fired an HF-3 missile, which travelled over 50 nautical miles, more than half the width of the Taiwan Strait. Following this demonstration, another TCGA unit launched a subsonic Hsiung Feng II (HF-2) missile at the same target. According to The Maritime Executive, each Anping-class vessel is capable of carrying up to 16 box-launched HF-2 or HF-3 surface-to-surface missiles, with installations taking only a few hours.

Joint Precision Missile Launch Exercise

The missile tests were part of Taiwan’s Tri-Service Joint Precision Missile Launch exercise, held from September 16 to 18 in Pingtung County. This annual exercise aims to improve coordination between the coast guard and the armed forces, including their ability to conduct joint operations and respond to maritime security incidents. The Ocean Affairs Council stated that the exercise was designed to enhance the coast guard's wartime conversion arrangements, ensuring that patrol vessels can be rapidly equipped with antiship missile modules.

Operational Readiness and Logistics

The Anping-class vessels are modified versions of the Taiwan Navy’s Tuo Chiang-class fast attack craft, built by Jong Shyn Shipbuilding. Each vessel has a maximum speed of 44 knots and a range of 2,000 nautical miles. In peacetime, these ships carry out sovereignty patrols, anti-smuggling work, and fisheries enforcement. During wartime, they can be rapidly converted into combat-ready platforms, with the coast guard crew retaining responsibility for shiphandling, engineering, firefighting, and damage control. An ROCN weapons team will embark to operate the missiles and receive targeting data.

Strategic Implications

This conversion capability underscores Taiwan's efforts to bolster its maritime defence and deter potential threats. By converting coast guard vessels into antiship missile platforms, Taiwan can significantly extend its defensive perimeter and enhance its operational flexibility. The ability to rapidly integrate antiship missiles into existing patrol vessels also highlights the nation's commitment to modernising its naval capabilities in response to evolving regional dynamics.

What This Means for Operators

The successful missile tests and conversion capabilities indicate that Taiwan's maritime security posture is becoming increasingly robust. This development could influence maritime operations in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, as the presence of armed coast guard vessels capable of launching antiship missiles may deter aggressive actions by other navies. Operators must be aware of these enhanced defensive measures and adjust their navigation and communication protocols accordingly to ensure safety and compliance with maritime security regulations.