[Taiwanese Coast Guard Vessels to Test Rapid Conversion into 16-Missile Launch Platforms]
According to a report by *Taiwan English News*, citing the *Liberty Times* on September 12, 2026: Taiwanese Coast Guard vessels will launch "Hsiung Feng" series anti-ship missiles during an upcoming joint precision munitions exercise, testing their ability to rapidly convert from civilian law enforcement ships into combat platforms in wartime scenarios.
This exercise will test a capability previously demonstrated during the August "Han Kuang" military drills, when an Anping-class patrol vessel completed such a conversion upon arriving at a naval port. According to military sources, the entire process—from installing missile launchers to the arrival of a naval weapons team and deployment from the port—can be accomplished within a few hours.
These vessels can be equipped with up to 16 subsonic Hsiung Feng II or supersonic Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles, providing Taiwan’s military with additional mobile coastal strike capabilities. The move aims to enhance deterrence and operational flexibility for forces engaged in nearshore operations.
As reported by the *Liberty Times*, these vessels were designed with pre-installed space for missile launchers on their aft decks. During peacetime, this area is covered by removable protective panels, allowing the ships to carry out missions without missiles.
When a wartime conversion order is issued, the Coast Guard vessels can sail to designated naval ports, where personnel remove the protective panels and use heavy cranes to install pre-assembled missile launch modules. The launchers are secured onto designated mounting bases, and their signal cables are connected to the ship’s internal interfaces.
According to the *Liberty Times*, this conversion does not involve changing crew members; instead, Coast Guard personnel continue to operate the vessel while the Navy takes charge of missile operations. A naval weapons team of about four to six personnel—including a fire-control officer, operators, and communications specialists—will manage the missile systems and receive target coordinates from the military command network.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1876170494384131/
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