Antelope air defence system | |
---|---|
Type | short range air defense (SHORAD) |
Place of origin | Taiwan |
Service history | |
Used by | Republic of China (Taiwan) Army |
Production history | |
Designer | National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) |
Designed | 1995 |
Manufacturer | National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) |
Produced | In production |
Specifications | |
Traverse | 360 degrees |
Effective firing range | 9km |
Main armament | TC-1L |
The Antelope air defense system ( Chinese: 捷羚防空飛彈系統) is a Taiwanese short range ground-to-air anti-aircraft defense system in operation with the Republic of China Army.
The Antelope system employs a battery of four Sky Sword I (TC-1) missiles mounted atop a wheeled vehicle (such as a truck or humvee). [1] The system can either be employed as a stand-alone point defense system or as part of an integrated area air defense system. [2]
The Antelope system collectively includes targeting, guidance, communications components as well as the missiles themselves. It was developed beginning in 1995 as an outgrowth of the Tien Chien-I missile development program. [1] The precise operating range of the Antelope system is variously reported as 9 km, [3] 18 km, [1] and "4 miles". [4] The system has a crew of two, one gunner and one observer. The system can be controlled from the truck's cabin or from a mobile control console that can be located up to 70m away from the vehicle to increase operator safety and survivability. [2]
The Antelope system's TC-1L interceptors employ infrared guidance and the system is similar in design to the United States-made Chaparral system which historically was a mainstay of Taiwan's SHORAD network. [4] It can be used to intercept low-flying helicopters, fighter aircraft, attack aircraft, and bombers. [5] The system can engage targets on the move. [2]
The system's CS/MPQ-78 radar was developed in the early 1990s and is a 3D pulse doppler radar with full look down-shoot down capability. Max radar range is 46.3km and ceiling is 30,480m. [6]