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Taiwan supersonic missile test flops
TAIPEI - TAIWAN'S defence ministry on Tuesday confirmed reports that a new supersonic anti-ship missile had missed its target during a routine naval drill, in the latest in a series of setbacks.
Analysts say the Hsiung Feng (Brave Wind) III missile, designed to cruise at a maximum speed of Mach 2.0, or twice the speed of sound, and with a range of up to 130km, is difficult to defend against.
But the defence ministry said the weapon, the island's first locally developed supersonic anti-ship missile, had failed to hit its objective during the drill due to a computer glitch.
'The ministry will improve on the screening of hardcore facilities... to ensure the quality of the missiles,' it said in a statement. Taiwan started to deploy the Hsiung Feng III on its warships last year in response to China's rapid naval expansion.
But the island's military leaders were left red-faced after two failed missile tests earlier this year that earned rare criticism from President Ma Ying-jeou, who urged the armed forces to practice more. The Taipei-based China Times said the latest failure was particularly embarrassing for Taiwan's navy, since it 'coincided' with Beijing's much-publicised military drills in South China Sea in mid-June.
The missiles are estimated to cost Taiwanese taxpayers at least NT$100 million (S$4.3 million) each, the report said. -- AFP
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_684854.html
Not often I see news of missile test actually failing :*::*: