Sky Bow - Sky Bow III

The Sky Bow III (TK-3) (天弓三, Tien Kung III) is the third generation version of the Tien Kung family of surface-to-Air missile (SAM) systems developed by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST) in Taiwan.

It was reported that Taiwan had initially sought and even proposed a joint development effort to co-produced a missile defense interceptor with the U.S., Taiwan officials asked for U.S. technical support for Taiwan's indigenous anti-tactical ballistic missile (ATBM) effort, including the transfer of Hit-to-Kill (HTK) technologies, specifically those related to an active radar Ka-band seeker and precision attitude control. CSIST was reported to had sought the release of the associated traveling-wave tube (TWT) transmitter of the Ka-band active radar seeker technology. However, U.S. refusal to the export release of a complete Ka-band active radar seeker without tamper protection or to provide the TWT on a stand-alone basis, forced CSIST to use a different (see below for related discussion) active radar seeker technology with significant European content.

The TK-3 (formerly known as TK-2 ATBM) is a lower-tier missile defense system based on the TK-2 missile that uses an imported Ku-Band (12–18 GHz) active radar seeker, a directed fragmentation warhead, and improved precision controls for engaging high-speed, low radar cross-section (RCS) targets such as tactical ballistic missiles. It is designed with greater mobility in mind than the original TK-1/2 systems, with an integrated battle management system, and uses an upgraded Chang Bai phased array radar or with the new mobile phased-array radar that is reportedly called the Mobile 3-Dimensional (3D) Air Defense Fire Control Phased Array Radar (Mobile 3D ADFCPAR).

The upgraded Chang Bai phased array radar is reportedly called the Chang Shan ("Long Mountain") radar system, it will reportedly increase the radar's radiated power over the Change Bai system by 170%, employs four times the number of phase shifter elements vis-a-vis the Chang Bai radar system, with substantial improvement in tracking ability to include tactical ballistic missile warhead sized targets, and with a reported range of 1,000 km.

The new mobile radar bears a striking physical resemblance to the Patriot's Raytheon AN/MPQ-53 radar system. It is reported to operate on the C-Band (4–8 GHz) frequency range, and like the AN/MPQ-53 system, it is trailer-mounted with a rectangular planar array radar of approximately similar size. However, it does not appear to have any identifiable missile guidance sub-array like those found below the main array on the AN/MPQ-53 system and it is therefor not clear if this new radar can provide target guidance illumination function in support of TK-1 SARH missiles. However, this should not present any problem for the new radar to be utilized on both TK-2 missile (X-Band) and TK-3 missile (Ku-Band) active radar seekers, as these missile systems does not require target illumination. The new radar enhances the survivability and operational flexibility of the TK2/3 missile systems by allowing a TK surface-air-missile battery to be deployed rapidly to a previously unprepared site. Unlike the TK-1/2 systems, TK-3 missile system uses vertical launch cells drawn by a transporter-erector-launcher and the TK-3 is reported to have a maximum range of better than 200 km. It was officially revealed on the October 10, 2007, military parade. By summer in 2013, it enters mass production and becomes a part of Taiwan's Anti-Tactical Ballistic Missile (ATBM) project, Taiwan's planned missile shield. The R.O.C.(Taiwan) develops the Sky Bow III missiles to engage stealth aircraft like J-20 based on the AN/MPQ-53 system of PESA radar.