Budget for 'Qiang Gong Missile' Revealed! Ministry of National Defense Allocates $36 Billion to Build Mid-Tier Air Defense Network

President Lai Qingde previously proposed the 'Taiwan Shield' concept, a multi-layered air defense network, under which the 'Qiang Gong Missile' (Tien Kung IV), developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), was initially included in a special budget. However, the Legislative Yuan deleted the item, prompting the Air Force to shift it to the 2027 fiscal year's regular budget. A continuous budget of NT$36.037 billion has now been allocated from 2026 to 2032 for the procurement of the Qiang Gong missile system, although the exact quantity remains classified.

On the 31st, the Ministry of National Defense submitted its 2027 (FY116) budget proposal to the Legislative Yuan. The 'Qiang Gong Missile' was originally part of the NT$1.25 trillion 'Defense Resilience and Asymmetric Warfare Capability Procurement' special budget bill but was ultimately removed by the legislature. However, according to the latest budget report submitted by the Ministry, the Air Force has now allocated NT$36.037 billion over seven years (2026–2032) under the regular budget for the procurement of the Qiang Gong missile system, officially designated as the mid-tier anti-tactical ballistic missile system.

The Air Force explained that in response to the growing threat of Chinese ballistic missiles, and in accordance with the military strategy of 'defensive consolidation and layered deterrence,' Taiwan is planning the architecture and performance specifications for a future mid-tier anti-tactical ballistic missile system. This system will be tasked with intercepting tactical ballistic missiles within the atmosphere and within a 1,000-kilometer range, and will be integrated with low-tier anti-ballistic missile systems to form a layered interception network.

In terms of expected outcomes, the Air Force stated that the integration of mid-tier and low-tier systems will create a layered interception fire network, enhance communication and intelligence sharing, and significantly improve overall air defense capabilities. The Air Force emphasized that due to the anticipated battlefield conditions—shorter warning times and faster operational tempo—the system will reduce combat reaction time, secure battlefield superiority, and enhance overall air defense effectiveness.

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