Harpoons and a New Command: Taiwan Fortifies Its Shores

Taiwan has received its first Harpoon coastal defense systems.

This marks part of a large-scale program to strengthen the island’s coastal defenses, according to FocusTaiwan.

During a session of Taiwan’s parliament, officials announced the delivery of the first batch of Harpoon coastal defense systems.

The delivery includes 100 launchers and 400 land-based RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles.

This shipment will serve as the foundation for the creation of a new Littoral Combat Command, which is set to officially begin operations on January 1, 2026.

Littoral Combat Command

Used in the context of Taiwan’s defense, it refers to a specialized military formation that will be responsible for defending the coastal zone and sea lanes in the maritime “littoral” — i.e., the area adjacent to the shoreline.

The new missile systems will give Taiwan the ability to strike maritime targets at long range and will enhance the effectiveness of its coastal defense.

Harpoon Block II

An upgraded version of the American AGM/RGM-84 Harpoon missile with improved inertial/GPS navigation (INS/GPS) from the JDAM kit and software from the SLAM-ER.

It is designed to engage ships and coastal targets even in challenging electronic-warfare environments.

Experts estimate that the establishment of a separate combat command equipped with Harpoon coastal systems will become one of the key elements of the island’s defense modernization.

Earlier this year, Taiwan detained a cargo ship linked to China after an undersea cable was severed.