The air defence system – inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome and America’s proposed Golden Dome – was unveiled in October. Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te said T-Dome would guard against “hostile threats” and aimed to intercept aircraft, drones and missiles before they could strike the island.
Lai did not offer many technical details, but Defence Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung later suggested the system would focus on integrating the detection and fire-control systems of existing air defence missiles with new technologies like AI, “rather than buying huge quantities of new missiles”.
The proposed system was the subject of an analysis in the December issue of mainland Chinese defence magazine Ordnance Industry Science Technology.
It said the multilayer air defence system was likely centred around US-made Patriot systems including PAC-2 and PAC-3, the Taiwanese Tien Kung II, III and IV interceptors, as well as the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System or NASAMS, and the Avenger systems and Stinger missiles.
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Taiwan arms fair draws record number of dealers amid defence spending spree
Taiwan arms fair draws record number of dealers amid defence spending spree
But the analysis identified vulnerabilities and flaws in the T-Dome shield.
