The Hsiung Feng II (HF-2) is a Taiwanese subsonic antiship cruise missile. It is the second variant developed within the Taiwan’s Hsiung Feng series, and has a range of 100-120 km. An extended range variant (HF-2ER) is currently in development.

Hsiung Feng II Development

While developing the Hsiung Feng I, Taiwan sought to acquire a longer-ranged antiship cruise missile (ASCM) to better counter the growing number of Chinese naval vessels. Taiwanese officials initially attempted to find a foreign supplier, showing interest in the French Exocet, U.S. Harpoon, and Italian Otomat. When these government declined to sell Taiwan these weapons, Taiwan opted instead to develop a longer-ranged ASCM domestically, improving upon the Hsiung Feng IA.¹ The Hsiung Feng II was developed by the military-owned National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST).²

Development of the Hsiung Feng II began in 1983. The missile was reported to have entered service in 1990, and was first displayed publicly at Taiwan’s Independence Day parade on 10 October 1998.³

Four additional versions of the Hsiung Feng II are believed to have been developed. The first of these was a static coastal version, believed to have entered service in 1993. The second, an air-launched version, reportedly entered service in 1996.

The third variant was a mobile coastal defense version. This version was first unveiled in December 2001, and first test fired in May 2002. It was expected to be adopted the following month, but testing was still under way in May 2003.⁴ The fourth and final version of the Hsiung Feng II was a torpedo tube-launched variant. Development is believed to have been discontinued after the delivery of 32 sub-launched Harpoon (UGM-84L) missiles from the United States in 2014.⁵

Hsiung Feng-IIER

In February 2019, Taiwanese defense officials announced the country’s plans to upgrade the currently deployed Hsiung Feng II Block II, completing mass production of a new HF-2 Extended Range (ER) by 2023. Taiwanese defense analysts suggest the upgrades will focus on increasing the missile’s range from 160 km to about 250 km and developing an electronic countermeasures and guidance system.⁶

Hsiung Feng II Specifications

The Hsiung Feng II has a length of 4.9 m, a body diameter of 0.40 m, and a launch weight of 695 kg. It carries a 225 kg high-explosive, fragmentation, semi-armor piercing warhead and includes an all-weather dual seeker and electronic countermeasures.⁷ The Hsiung Feng II has a reported range between 100-120 km, although reports in 2017 claim that Taiwan’s NCSIST successfully produced an extended-ranged version with a range of up to 250 km.⁸ The missile is propelled by a solid-fueled booster and liquid-fueled turbojet engine. It uses an inertial navigation system-based guidance system.⁹

Hsiung Feng II Service History

According to the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, two types of Hsiung Feng II are deployed: the Block I and Block II. In addition to both stationary and mobile ground-launchers, the weapon has been deployed onto:

1. Cheng Kung-class frigates
2. Kang Ding-frigates (La Fayette-class)
3. Jin Chiang-class patrol gunboats
4. Kwang Hua 6-class fast attack craft
5. Hsun Hai-class fast attack craft

The next generation – likely to be dubbed Hsiung Feng II Block III – is currently under development.¹⁰