Popeye (missile) vs Sky Sword II: Specs Compared

FORCETALLY

Loading the evidence…

Preparing your view.

Popeye (missile) — licensed reference photograph

AMissiles

Popeye (missile)

Air-to-surface missile SLCM

Credit

Tal Inbar (טל ענבר) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source ↗ · Modified

BMissiles

Sky Sword II

Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

Length comparisonOne shared metre scale

Popeye (missile)Length

4.82 m

Length source ↗

Sky Sword IITC-2N

4.6 m

Length source ↗

Lengths retain their source configuration and measurement scope.

Popeye (missile)larger figure on 2 of 2

Diameter+181%
Mass+639%

Sky Sword IIlarger figure on 0 of 2

None

Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.

Measured figures

Head to head

10 of 26 rows sourced on both sides

4.82m

4.6mTC-2N

Length

All recorded figures & sources

4.82 m

Length

Single source

4.82 m (15 ft 10 in)^[source]

3.694 m

Single source

Configuration

Details

Popeye (missile) and Sky Sword II configuration
Specification	Popeye (missile)	Sky Sword II
Speed	—	Mach 6 (TC-2C)^[source]
Type	Air-to-surface missile SLCM^[source]	Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile^[source]
Place of origin	Israel^[source]	Taiwan^[source]
In service	1985–present^[source]	—
Used by	See Operators^[source]

Designer	Rafael Advanced Defense Systems^[source]	—

Manufacturer	Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Lockheed Martin^[source]	National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology^[source]

Warhead	340 kg (750 lb) blast fragmentation or 360 kg (790 lb) I-800 penetrating^[source]	—

Engine	Single-stage Solid-fuel rocket^[source]	—

Guidance system	Inertial plus IIR or TV^[source]	Transis guiding phase : Inertial navigation system Terminal homing phase : Active radar homing^[source]

Launch platform	Fixed-wing aircraft, Dolphin class submarine (Popeye Turbo SLCM)^[source]	Air Force: AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-Kuo Navy: Tuo Chiang-class corvette & Kang Ding-class Army: Transporter erector launchers^[source]

Guidance	Inertial plus imaging infrared or TV^[source]	—

Designed	—	1990s^[source]

Role	—	Taiwanese beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile^[source]

Source measurement	—	The Sky Sword II , Tien Chien II , or TC-2 ( Chinese : 天劍二 ; pinyin : Tiān Jiàn Èr ; Wade–Giles : Tʻien 1 Chien 4 Êrh 4 ) is a Taiwanese beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile . It has an inertial navigation system, a data-link for mid-course guidance and active radar homing for terminal guidance, beyond visual range. It also has ECCM capability and can engage multiple targets. According to Su Tzu-yun, chief executive officer at the Center for Advanced Technology at Tamkang University , they are a cost-effective design which can perform a key role in Taiwan's defense strategy, and substantially offset China's air superiority. Some details of its design were revealed for the first time at the Paris Air Show in 2015. The pulse doppler radar seeker reportedly has a detection range of 9.3 km (5.8 mi).^[source]Sky Sword II · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage A ship-launched, surface-to-air version was later developed and designated TC-2N. Its development began in 1994, and a ground-based test was first carried out against a low-flying drone in 1997. This development was revealed to the public in 2005 and the intention to make it compatible with vertical launch methods was announced in 2006. The first ship-based launch took place in mid-2014. In the naval role the TC-2N fills an air defense gap between the Phalanx CIWS and SM-2 systems with a range of 30 km (19 mi).^[source]Sky Sword II · Variants / TC-2N; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage TC-2A is an anti-radiation missile , similar to the AGM-88 HARM . The TC-2A program began soon after the completion of the TC-2. It fills the requirement of the ROCAF for an Anti-Radiation Missile to arm the F-CK-1. It is reported to be 3.6 m (11 ft 10 in) long, 19 cm (7.5 in) in diameter, weighs 184 kg (406 lb) (warhead weighs 22 kg (49 lb)), and with a range of 100 km (62 mi). The passive radar seeker on the TC-2A has been reported as having a detection range of 92 km (57 mi).^[source]Sky Sword II · Variants / TC-2A; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage TC-2C is an advanced air-to-air version first tested in 2017 and intended to replace the standard TC-2. It features a number of incremental improvements including an improved rocket motor which allows an engagement range of 100 km (62 mi).^[source]Sky Sword II · Variants / TC-2C; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The land based version of the TC-2N, called the land sword two (陸劍二, pinyin: lù jiàn èr) features the missile packaged in a sealed container-launcher. NCSIST has exhibited a truck mounted version with four missile pods. The TC-2 air-defense system was exhibited at International Defence Exhibition in Abu Dhabi with a reported canister length of 4 m (13 ft) and an all up weight (combined canister and round) of 350 kg (770 lb). It reportedly retains the midcourse inertial guidance with data link and terminal active radar guidance schemes, as well as an electronic counter-countermeasure (ECCM) capability. Because it lacks the naval version's booster, however, its effective range is reportedly only 15 km (9.3 mi).^[source]Sky Sword II · Variants / Land Sword 2; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The Tien Chien 3 is an improved air-to-air missile under development from the TC-2. Range of 160 kilometers (99 miles). This offers similar range to the AIM-120C-8. This missile is also referred to as the TC-5. It is distinct from the ground launched TC-2.^[source]Sky Sword II · Variants / TC-3/TC-5; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Source measurement

—

The Sky Sword II , Tien Chien II , or TC-2 ( Chinese : 天劍二 ; pinyin : Tiān Jiàn Èr ; Wade–Giles : Tʻien 1 Chien 4 Êrh 4 ) is a Taiwanese beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile . It has an inertial navigation system, a data-link for mid-course guidance and active radar homing for terminal guidance, beyond visual range. It also has ECCM capability and can engage multiple targets. According to Su Tzu-yun, chief executive officer at the Center for Advanced Technology at Tamkang University , they are a cost-effective design which can perform a key role in Taiwan's defense strategy, and substantially offset China's air superiority. Some details of its design were revealed for the first time at the Paris Air Show in 2015. The pulse doppler radar seeker reportedly has a detection range of 9.3 km (5.8 mi).^[source]Sky Sword II · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

A ship-launched, surface-to-air version was later developed and designated TC-2N. Its development began in 1994, and a ground-based test was first carried out against a low-flying drone in 1997. This development was revealed to the public in 2005 and the intention to make it compatible with vertical launch methods was announced in 2006. The first ship-based launch took place in mid-2014. In the naval role the TC-2N fills an air defense gap between the Phalanx CIWS and SM-2 systems with a range of 30 km (19 mi).^[source]Sky Sword II · Variants / TC-2N; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

TC-2A is an anti-radiation missile , similar to the AGM-88 HARM . The TC-2A program began soon after the completion of the TC-2. It fills the requirement of the ROCAF for an Anti-Radiation Missile to arm the F-CK-1. It is reported to be 3.6 m (11 ft 10 in) long, 19 cm (7.5 in) in diameter, weighs 184 kg (406 lb) (warhead weighs 22 kg (49 lb)), and with a range of 100 km (62 mi). The passive radar seeker on the TC-2A has been reported as having a detection range of 92 km (57 mi).^[source]Sky Sword II · Variants / TC-2A; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

TC-2C is an advanced air-to-air version first tested in 2017 and intended to replace the standard TC-2. It features a number of incremental improvements including an improved rocket motor which allows an engagement range of 100 km (62 mi).^[source]Sky Sword II · Variants / TC-2C; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The land based version of the TC-2N, called the land sword two (陸劍二, pinyin: lù jiàn èr) features the missile packaged in a sealed container-launcher. NCSIST has exhibited a truck mounted version with four missile pods. The TC-2 air-defense system was exhibited at International Defence Exhibition in Abu Dhabi with a reported canister length of 4 m (13 ft) and an all up weight (combined canister and round) of 350 kg (770 lb). It reportedly retains the midcourse inertial guidance with data link and terminal active radar guidance schemes, as well as an electronic counter-countermeasure (ECCM) capability. Because it lacks the naval version's booster, however, its effective range is reportedly only 15 km (9.3 mi).^[source]Sky Sword II · Variants / Land Sword 2; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The Tien Chien 3 is an improved air-to-air missile under development from the TC-2. Range of 160 kilometers (99 miles). This offers similar range to the AIM-120C-8. This missile is also referred to as the TC-5. It is distinct from the ground launched TC-2.^[source]Sky Sword II · Variants / TC-3/TC-5; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Reported operators	Reported operator · Royal Australian Air Force Reported operator · Indian Air Force Reported operator · Israeli Air Force Reported operator · Republic of Korea Air Force Reported operator · Turkish Air Force Reported operator · United States Air Force	—