Facing China's Threat, Taiwan Builds T-Dome Air Defense

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Taiwan's T-Dome's air defense system' will build a more efficient and integrated "sensor-to-shooter" mechanism for higher assassination rates, with a dedicated year-end budget to propose special spending on the system.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te launched a layered air defense system he called "T-Dome" on Friday last week, as part of a government plan to modernize the military for the better in preventing China from becoming its own territory.

Speaking to reporters in Taipei parliament, Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo said Lai's proposal refers to the concept of "sensor-to-shooter", to integrate the system for a faster and more effective response to enemy targets.

"If integration is achieved, it is likely that successful interceptions will naturally increase and firing power coordination can be carried out with higher efficiency and better resource allocation," he said.

"Sensor-to-shooter" is something that has become the focus of the US military, including with the concept of Command and Joint Control of All Domains to connect sensors and shooters into a single system.

Taiwan's existing land-to-air defense system is centered on the US-made Patriot missile and Taiwan-made Sky Bow missile, as well as the Stinger missile for low-range interception. Taiwan is also developing the dollar-Kong missile for high-altitude interception.

"If we don't integrate anti-missile, anti-air, and anti-drone capabilities, we won't be able to achieve efficient interceptions. We will prioritize procurement that emphasizes mobility and high durability," said Koo.

The upcoming special budget at the end of the year will focus on new equipment for "T-Dome", he added.

"T-Dome" is also in accordance with Taiwan's asymmetric approach to warfare, Koo said, to make its troops, which are much smaller than China, more agile and capable of launching larger and more targeted attacks.

President Lai, who rejects Beijing's claim to sovereignty, has pledged to increase the defense budget to 5% of GDP by 2030.

China has never abandoned the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.

While Beijing is developing new weapons such as stealth fighters and aircraft carriers, its armed forces are also grappling with a continuing crackdown on corruption.