AAir defence
Sky Bow
series of surface-to-air anti-ballistic missile and anti-aircraft defense systems
FORCETALLY
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AAir defence
series of surface-to-air anti-ballistic missile and anti-aircraft defense systems
At a glance
Measured figures
Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Length
Single sourceSky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | Sky Bow | SPYDER |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Mach 4.5[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited Mach 7.0[source]Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited | Mach 4[source] |
| Type | series of surface-to-air anti-ballistic missile and anti-aircraft defense systems[source] | Short and medium range air defence system[source] |
| Manufacturer | National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST)[source] | Rafael Advanced Defense Systems[source] |
5.673 m[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited
5.498 m[source]Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited
Derby
Single sourcePython-5
Single source3.1 m (10 ft 2 in ) (Python-5) 3.62 m (11 ft 11 in) (Derby)[source]
both
Single source640 mm (2 ft 1 in) (both)[source]
Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Diameter
Single sourceSky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Diameter
Single source0.42 m[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited
0.4 m[source]Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited
both
Single source160 mm (6.3 in) (both)[source]
Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Mass
Single sourceSky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Mass
Single source1,135 kg[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited
870 kg[source]Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited
Derby
Single sourcePython-5
Single source105 kg (231 lb ) (Python-5) 118 kg (260 lb) (Derby)
Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Range
Single sourceSky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Range
Single source150 km[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited
200 km[source]Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited
Operational; Derby
Single sourceOperational; Python-5
Single sourceSky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Warhead mass
Single source90 kg[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| In service | The TK-2, TK-3 and TK-4 are in service with the Military of the Republic of China[source] | — |
|---|
| Used by | Military of the Republic of China[source] | See Operators[source] |
|---|
| Role | surface-to-air missile[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited surface-to-air missile[source]Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited | — |
|---|
| Propulsion | Single-stage dual-thrust solid-fuel rocket motor[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited Solid-fuel rocket motor[source]Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited | — |
|---|
| Launch platform | Underground silos and mobile launch vehicles[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited Towed quad launchers[source]Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited | Tatra 817 truck Mercedes-Benz Actros truck RMMV HX truck MAN TGS truck Scania P-series truck Dongfeng truck TELAR[source] |
|---|
| Guidance | Inertial with mid-course guidance update from ground-based phased array radar, Active radar homing ( ARH ) for terminal guidance[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited | — |
|---|
| Introduced | 1997[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited | — |
|---|
| Country of origin | Taiwan[source]Inventory Origin column; table 5, row 4, cell 2; revision 1370505017; retrieved 2026-09-30 | — |
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| Place of origin | — | Israel[source] |
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| Wars | — | Russo-Georgian War 2019 India–Pakistan border skirmishes[source] |
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| Designer | — | Rafael Advanced Defense Systems[source] |
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| Produced | — | 2005–present[source] |
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| Variants | — | SPYDER-SR SPYDER-MR, SPYDER LR (counter TBM)[source] |
|---|
| Warhead | — | 11 kg (24 lb) (Python-5) 23 kg (51 lb) (Derby)[source] |
|---|
| Detonation mechanism | — | Active laser and electromagnetic proximity fuse with back-up impact fuse[source] |
|---|
| Main armament | — | ×4 Python-5 or Derby missiles in any combination per MFU[source] |
|---|
| Flight altitude | — | Python-5: 9,000 m (30,000 ft) Derby: 16,000 m (52,000 ft)[source] |
|---|
| Guidance system | — | Infrared homing and electro-optical imaging (Python-5) Active radar homing (Derby)[source] |
|---|
Python-5: 40 km (25 mi) Derby: 80 km (50 mi)[source]