Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology
Encyclopedia
The Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (中山科學研究院) is the primary research and development institution of the Republic of China Ministry of National Defense's Armaments Bureau and has been active in the development of various weapons systems and dual use technology. CSIST is also involved in developing systems for Taiwan's civilian space program. The institute is administered under the Armaments Bureau of the ROC Ministry of National Defense (MND), and is headquartered in Longtan Township
, Taoyuan County, Taiwan
.
government in 1969 to serve as a military R&D and systems integration center Early work includes various missile and radar systems, as well as systems integration for ROC military aircraft and ships.
The institute was involved in attempts nuclear weapons programs during the Cold War
. In 1967, a nuclear weapons program began under the auspices of the Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (INER) of CIST. After the International Atomic Energy Agency
found evidence of the ROC's efforts to produce weapons-grade plutonium, Taipei agreed in September 1976 under U.S. pressure to dismantle its nuclear weapons program. Though the nuclear reactor was soon shut down and the plutonium mostly returned to the U.S., a secret program was revealed when Colonel Chang, Hsien-yi, deputy director of nuclear research at INER, defected to the U.S. in December 1987 and produced a cache of incriminating documents.Presently there is no claim any nuclear weapons program is being pursued.
The Institute expanded to the development of dual use technology in 1994. With the expansion of Taiwan's civilian space program, CSIST has also become involved in design of various satellite
and launch systems, the latter of which have consisted primarily of scientific rockets
to study the ionosphere
.
Longtan, Taoyuan
Longtan is a rural township in southern Taoyuan County, Taiwan Province. Longtan is home to the headquarters of the Republic of China Army....
, Taoyuan County, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.
History
CSIST was established by the Republic of ChinaRepublic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
government in 1969 to serve as a military R&D and systems integration center Early work includes various missile and radar systems, as well as systems integration for ROC military aircraft and ships.
The institute was involved in attempts nuclear weapons programs during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. In 1967, a nuclear weapons program began under the auspices of the Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (INER) of CIST. After the International Atomic Energy Agency
International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957...
found evidence of the ROC's efforts to produce weapons-grade plutonium, Taipei agreed in September 1976 under U.S. pressure to dismantle its nuclear weapons program. Though the nuclear reactor was soon shut down and the plutonium mostly returned to the U.S., a secret program was revealed when Colonel Chang, Hsien-yi, deputy director of nuclear research at INER, defected to the U.S. in December 1987 and produced a cache of incriminating documents.Presently there is no claim any nuclear weapons program is being pursued.
The Institute expanded to the development of dual use technology in 1994. With the expansion of Taiwan's civilian space program, CSIST has also become involved in design of various satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
and launch systems, the latter of which have consisted primarily of scientific rockets
Sounding rocket
A sounding rocket, sometimes called a research rocket, is an instrument-carrying rocket designed to take measurements and perform scientific experiments during its sub-orbital flight. The origin of the term comes from nautical vocabulary, where to sound is to throw a weighted line from a ship into...
to study the ionosphere
Ionosphere
The ionosphere is a part of the upper atmosphere, comprising portions of the mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere, distinguished because it is ionized by solar radiation. It plays an important part in atmospheric electricity and forms the inner edge of the magnetosphere...
.
Fighter aircraft
- AIDC F-CK Indigenous Defence FighterAIDC F-CK Indigenous Defence FighterThe AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo , commonly known as the Indigenous Defence Fighter ', is an air superiority jet fighter with multirole capability named after Chiang Ching-kuo, the late President of the Republic of China...
: Developed by division later spun off as AIDCAerospace Industrial Development CorporationAerospace Industrial Development Corporation is a state-owned aerospace company based in Taichung, Republic of China . It is known for developing the AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo fighter.-History:...
and was a contractor also. Worked with AIDC to provide upgrades for the IDF.
Missiles
- Hsiung Feng IHsiung Feng IThe Hsiung Feng I is an anti-ship missile system developed by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology in Taiwan ROC between 1975 and 1978 and is essentially a derivative of the Israeli Gabriel missile Mk II...
(HF-1): sea and ground based subsonic Anti-ship missileAnti-ship missileAnti-ship missiles are guided missiles that are designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea-skimming type, many use a combination of inertial guidance and radar homing...
. - Hsiung Feng IIHsiung Feng IIThe Hsiung Feng II is an anti-ship missile system developed by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology in Taiwan. The HF-2 is designed to be deployed aboard ships or at land-based facilities, an airborne version has also been developed which can be carried by the ROC Air Force's F-CK...
(HF-2): improved HF-1 with air-to-ground missile. - Hsiung Feng IIEHsiung Feng IIEThe Hsiung Feng IIE is a surface-to-surface cruise missile system developed by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology in Taiwan and based upon the earlier HF-2 anti-ship missile.-Development:...
(HF-2E): land attack cruise missileCruise missileA cruise missile is a guided missile that carries an explosive payload and is propelled, usually by a jet engine, towards a land-based or sea-based target. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high accuracy...
system based on the HF-2 - Hsiung Feng IIIHsiung Feng IIIThe Hsiung Feng III is the third in the Hsiung Feng series of anti-ship missiles developed by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology in Taiwan...
(HF-3): supersonic anti-ship missile. - Kun Wu 1 (KW 1): clone of the 9K11 Malyutka anti-tank missile, already phased out of ROCARepublic of China ArmyThe ROC Army's current operational strength includes 3 armies, 5 corps. As of 2005, the Army's 35 brigades include 25 infantry brigades, 5 armoured brigades and 3 mechanized infantry brigades...
service. - Kung Feng 6Kung Feng Multiple Launch Rocket SystemThe Kung Feng MLR series is a family of MLR systems used by the Republic of China Army.-Variants:* Kung Feng I - Prototype only. Never entered service.* Kung Feng II - Prototype only...
(KF 6): locally developed MLRSMultiple rocket launcherA multiple rocket launcher is a type of unguided rocket artillery system. Like other rocket artillery, multiple rocket launchers are less accurate and have a much lower rate of fire than batteries of traditional artillery guns...
. - Sky Bow I (TK-1): surface-to-air missileSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
system. - Sky Bow II (TK-2): advanced version of TK-1 with longer range and anti-missile capability.
- Sky Bow III (TK-3): anti-ballistic missile system (partially based on Patriot-2 technology) - in development
- Sky Sword ISky Sword IThe TC-1 Sky Sword I is a short range infrared guided air-to-air missile developed by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology in Taiwan ROC, for the ROC Air Force. The missile was developed in the mid to late 1980s and is presently deployed on the ROCAF's F-CK IDF fighters...
(TC-1): IR guided air-to-air missileAir-to-air missileAn air-to-air missile is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid fuelled but sometimes liquid fuelled...
. - Sky Sword IISky Sword IIThe TC-2 Sky Sword II is a radar guided air-to-air missile developed by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology in Taiwan Republic of China during the 1990s for the ROC Air Force...
(TC-2): radar guided air-to-air missileAir-to-air missileAn air-to-air missile is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid fuelled but sometimes liquid fuelled...
. - Thunderbolt-2000Thunderbolt-2000The Thunderbolt-2000 RT/LT-2000 is a wheeled MLRS systems used by the Republic of China Army. It was created with the intention of attacking enemy forces when disembarking from sea....
(LT-2000): locally developed MLRSMultiple rocket launcherA multiple rocket launcher is a type of unguided rocket artillery system. Like other rocket artillery, multiple rocket launchers are less accurate and have a much lower rate of fire than batteries of traditional artillery guns...
.
Research Divisions
- Aeronautical Systems
- Missile and Rocket Systems
- Information and Communications
- Chemical Systems
- Materials and Electro-Optics
- Electronic Systems
Centers
- System Development
- System Manufacturing
- Integrated Logistical Support
- Information Management
See also
- Military of the Republic of ChinaMilitary of the Republic of ChinaThe Republic of China Armed Forces encompass the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Military Police Force of the Republic of China . It is a military establishment, which accounted for 16.8% of the central budget in the fiscal year of 2003...
- National Space Organization (Taiwan ROC)
- Taiwan and weapons of mass destruction