Taipei: Taiwan is set to receive its first shipment of Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems (HCDS) from the United States around the New Year, marking a significant step towards achieving critical capability for its planned “littoral combatant command,” Navy Chief of Staff Chiu Chun-jung announced.
According to Focus Taiwan, the announcement came during a session of the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee. Lawmaker Chen Chun-yu of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party inquired about the timely delivery of the first batch of 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems and 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II surface-launched anti-ship missiles. These systems are essential for the official launch of the “littoral combatant command” scheduled for January 1, 2026. Chen also noted that the Navy’s Hai Feng Shore-Based Anti-ship Missile Group has already received five launcher trucks and a radar truck to be used alongside the Harpoon missiles.
The littoral combatant command is slated to be established on January 1, 2026, with its force generation expected by July 2026, Chiu stated. To align with this timeline, the Navy plans to accept the first shipment of Harpoon equipment by the end of this year or the start of next year, ensuring that the command achieves its initial critical capability.
When questioned by Chen about the integration of unmanned aerial and surface vehicles into the littoral combatant command, Chiu confirmed that both systems would be incorporated into the command’s layered coastal strike and interdiction missions, with project planning already underway.
In 2020, the U.S. announced a $2.37 billion sale to Taiwan, which includes up to 100 HCDS and related equipment. The package comprises up to 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II Surface Launched Missiles, 4 RTM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II Exercise Missiles, 411 containers, 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense System Launcher Transporter Units, 25 radar trucks, spare and repair parts, and additional support elements.
Taiwan’s armed forces already operate various versions of the Harpoon missile family, including air-launched, ship-launched, submarine-launched, and ground-based variants.