Taiwan has publicly shown images of an AGM-114 Hellfire missile system installed on a civil delivery truck, emphasizing the country’s investment in mobile, discreet and quickly deployable platforms to avert a possible Chinese amphibious attack.
The video, published by Taiwan’s National Ministry of Defense, shows a seemingly ordinary commercial car equipped with a hidden firing unit and a telescopic aiming stand that folds over the car’s roof and makes it practically unrecognizable in civil traffic.
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Although Taipei authorities have not disclosed how many of these units are in operation or whether they are part of a larger secret program, local military analysts point out that the system is ideal for operations on coastal roads and in urban areas and moving discreetly until the launch time.
The firing unit can be quickly deployed to engage landing vessels, amphibious vehicles and other surface threats thanks to integrated electro -optic and infrared sensors that enable independent target detection and tracking without the need for external data. After the attack, the system withdraws the firing unit and turns to camouflage, making hostile discovery difficult.
The initiative follows Taiwan’s defense strategy, which prioritizes mobile, survivability and low signature systems to counter superior strengths and exploits the island’s mountainous geography and close buildings.
Experts compare the platform with improvised solutions, seen in recent conflicts, such as in Ukraine, where Brimstone missiles were fired from unarmed trucks against Russian forces. This type of adaptation provides high firepower at low price and reduced vulnerability to preventative attacks.
Source and Pictures: Taiwan’s National Ministry of Defense (ROC). This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial staff.
