Stinger missiles debut in Taiwan’s Han Kuang 41 drills

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's armed forces entered the sixth day of the Han Kuang 41 exercise (漢光41號演習), demonstrating their defensive capabilities throughout Taipei. The Military Police Command (憲兵) collaborated with Taipei Metro (台北捷運公司) and security task forces on Monday, focusing on urban defense scenarios in the greater Taipei Area and showcasing advanced artillery systems.

The exercise featured the introduction of the Sky Sword II (陸劍二飛彈) missile and cross-regional reinforcement with the 99th Marine Brigade. Chen Kuo-ming (陳國銘), Global Defense Magazine's (全球防衛雜誌) interview director, noted that "the joint defense force of marine brigades in the Greater Taipei area aims to enhance the capital's defense capability."

U.S.-supplied FIM-92 Stinger missiles made their debut in Sunday's exercise, focusing on low-altitude air defense to protect the capital's political and economic centers. Taiwan remains one of the few countries operating four Stinger missile variants, including dual-launcher, vehicle-mounted Avenger, air-launched Apache, and man-portable shoulder-fired types.

The Tamsui River (淡水河) continues to be a critical defense point against potential People's Liberation Army incursions. Military officials have enhanced river barriers and plan to test explosive countermeasures to prevent fast-boat assaults, following previous incidents of mainland civilians breaching the river's defenses. 

Patriot missiles have been deployed in Taipei, while Charles Flynn, former U.S. Army Pacific Commander, visited Tamsui to review river defense strategies. These deployments reflect Taiwan's comprehensive approach to air and river defense. In urban areas, Taiwan's military simulated a logistics supply attack and defense of the Central Bank (CBC, 中央銀行) against a simulated armed takeover. However, experts suggest different priorities for urban defense exercises.

Associate Research Fellow Chieh Chung (揭仲) from the Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR, 國防安全研究院) emphasized that "the Presidential Office, residence, and Bo'ai Special Zone are more likely targets for potential incursions." SecureTaiwan Association (STA, 安全台灣理事會) Chairman Yang Tai-yuan (楊太源) echoed this sentiment, stressing these areas as key focus points for future drills.

This year's Han Kuang exercise, lasting 10 days and nights, has mobilized 20,000 reservists — the largest in history — and integrates civilian resilience. The drills simulate scenarios assuming a People's Liberation Army (PLA, 解放軍) invasion in 2027, particularly practicing asymmetric warfare strategies.

Since former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, China's military threats have intensified, including multiple encirclement drills and frequent incursions into Taiwan's air and sea spaces. With Taipei at the forefront of potential conflict, Han Kuang 41 represents not just an annual exercise but a new chapter in Taiwan's evolving defense strategy.