Taiwan’s New Qingtian Hypersonic Cruise Missile: Threat to China?

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Key Points and Summary: Taiwan’s new Qingtian Hypersonic Cruise Missile (QHCM) is a significant leap in its defense capabilities against potential Chinese aggression.

-Capable of traveling at Mach 6 and with a range of over 1,200 miles, the QHCM can target Chinese naval forces and critical infrastructure, such as energy sites, in mainland China.

-Designed for both road-mobile and static deployment, the missile’s advanced ramjet engine ensures high reliability and survivability in combat scenarios.

-As tensions rise, the mass production and integration of the QHCM into Taiwanese forces send a strong message to China: any invasion will come at a severe cost.

Taiwan’s new Qingtian Hypersonic Cruise Missile, Explained 

In facing China, Taiwan is up against the largest military in the world. Taiwan can only do so much to prepare for any Chinese military onslaught, but it has opened production of a powerful new weapon, the Qingtian, hypersonic cruise missile. 

The Qingtian hypersonic cruise missile (QHCM) can travel at speeds at or above Mach 6, making it nearly impossible to intercept. Additionally, it has a range of over 1,200 miles, allowing it to hit targets throughout a large part of western China. 

While the QHCM can readily be used to target and destroy Chinese naval vessels during an invasion, it will be much better served in attacking China’s energy infrastructure. There are numerous sites of this nature within the QHCMs range.  

Taiwan is already mass-producing the QHCM and integrated it into Taiwanese military units. Therefore, China must factor this weapon system and the significant damage it can do, into its invasion calculations.  

Facing Down the Giant 

Taiwan is facing a hostile behemoth bent on invading, subjugating, and ripping its freedom asunder. Of course, that behemoth is China, run by the dictator Xi Jinping, who , for the “glory” of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and his glorification, seeks to assimilate the island democracy. 

At Xi’s disposal, is a stockpile of approximately 3,000 ballistic missiles of various types, his navy has 370 vessels, growing by the year, and there are approximately two million personnel in his military.  

Taiwan needs outside assistance as much as it needs to help itself. In terms of improving its own defenses, the island nation began mass-producing the indigenously designed Quingtian hypersonic cruise missile (QHCM) in late 2024. Additionally, the missile has already been deployed and integrated into Taiwanese army units. 

The development of this missile was led by the Chung Shan National Institute of Science and Technology (CSNIST). CSNIST is a state-owned corporation; it is active in developing, manufacturing, supporting, and sustaining armaments and defense technology.   

A Closer Inspection of the Qingtian Hypersonic Cruise Missile 

The QHCM builds on the Yunfeng and Yunfeng II cruise missile programs. The QHCM showcases advancements in propulsion, navigation, and guidance technologies.  

The improved propulsion alone allows the missile to travel at speeds at or above Mach 6, and it has a range of 2,000 km or 1,242.7 miles. At speeds of about 1.7 miles per second, these missiles would prove very difficult to intercept. 

In addition to hardware and software upgrades, the missile’s body features composite ceramic materials. These allow the QHCM to endure the extreme conditions that are associated with high Mach speeds.  

The power behind the QHCM is an advanced ramjet engine. Engines of this type operate on a system that produces thrust through the combustion of air and fuel, without the need for mechanical components for compression. The removal of moving parts increases the missile’s reliability and reduces its operational complexity.  

According to Airplane Tech, a ramjet produces thrust as follows: 

“As air enters the ramjet engine, it is decelerated to subsonic speeds in the inlet design, creating a pressure increase essential for efficient combustion. The fuel is injected into the compressed air, where the mixing and combustion process occur. The resulting high-pressure exhaust gases expand through a nozzle, generating thrust.” 

How the Qingtian Hypersonic Cruise Missile will be Deployed 

The QHCM will have the dual capability of being both road mobile and stationed at a static position. With regard to the former, the missile system will deploy on heavy-duty, Czech-made Tatra Force 12×12 trucks. These vehicles were chosen for their high degree of operational mobility off-road, and in mountainous terrain.  

Should there be any difficulties in procuring the Tartra Force trucks, the American Oshkosh M983 utility truck will serve as a replacement.  

With the QHCM being road mobile, it will be able to rapidly deploy during any situation that involves supporting the national security of Taiwan. Additionally, road mobility will improve the survivability of the missile units, improving their chances of launching retaliatory strikes while complicating the targeting operations of the Chinese military.  

No Target is Off the Table 

The QHCM is both a tactical and strategic weapon; it can be readily used to blow holes in China’s new warships and target sites within China itself.  

If Taiwan is forced to defend itself from becoming the newest cell block in the largest minimum-security prison in the world (China), then all targets of China’s national significance are on the table.  

Given that the QHCM has a range of 1,243-ish miles, it can hit targets beyond Beijing as far deep as Chengdu, the last large city, before reaching the mountains in the west. That radius essentially covers all of the major population centers in western China.  

Mainland China, a Target-Rich Environment 

A paper available from the Baker Institute: Center for Energy Studies offers a complete view of China’s energy infrastructure. The map displays a target-rich environment, as there are nearly 50 liquid natural gas terminals, about 35 oil ports, about 145 petroleum refineries, almost the same amount of gas power plants, and 30 nuclear power plants. Most of these sites are on or near the west coast of China, and many are directly across from Taiwan.  

In addition to all of that infrastructure, the map displays the massive network of natural gas pipelines. These pipelines run from China’s western border with Kazakhstan and travel in a tight group of six main lines, one being an oil pipeline, until they fan out once they reach the populated western portion of China.  

These sites and pipelines would become legitimate targets if an invasion did ensue. Given the many potential targets, Taiwan must consider hitting the largest and most important.  

Making China’s Military Planners Think Twice

Should Taiwan find itself under attack by China, it has the legitimate right to defend itself. With the Quingtian Hypersonic Cruise missile, its military has the ability to inflict significant damage upon the energy infrastructure of China.

That should make the CCP and its military planners think twice before launching any invasion. Therefore, Taiwan should produce as many Quingtian Hypersonic Cruise missiles and deploy them as soon as possible. This may be one of Taiwan’s greatest aces up its military sleeve.  

About the Author: Christian P. Martin

Christian P. Martin is a Michigan-based writer; he earned a Master’s degree in Defense & Strategic Studies (Summa cum laude) from the University of Texas, El Paso. Currently, he is a research assistant at the Asia Pacific Security Innovation Forum. Concerning writing, he has published several dozen articles in places like Simple Flying, SOFREP, SOF News, and other outlets.