Air Force Air Defense and Missile Command
The Air Force Air Defense and Missile Command was formed from the former Air Defense Artillery Command and Air Defense Missile Command. Under the guidance of late President Chiang Kai-shek, who stated that “a nation without air defense is a nation without defense”, the air defense artillery forces were established at Meidenggao Bridge in Hangzhou, China, in 1933. The Air Force Anti-Aircraft Gun Headquarters was established in 1949 and stationed at Sanchong in what was then Taipei County. The missile forces established the 1st Army Missile Battalion in 1949, which was stationed at Tamsui, Taipei. In 1962, the anti-aircraft forces were renamed the “Air Defense Artillery Headquarters” and stationed at Taipei’s South Airport until 1972, when they moved to Zhongyong Base in what was then Bade Township, Taoyuan.
In 1976, the “Nanning Project” planned the formation of the 664th Battalion in central and southern Taiwan and the Penghu region. The unit would be equipped with Hawk air defense missiles and stationed at Siaogang, Kaohsiung. In 1989, the missile forces established an experimental unit to test the Skybow missile. After testing concluded in 1991, the 1st Nike Hercules Company was refitted with domestically produced Skybow missiles and renamed the 1st Skybow Company. In 1991, air defense artillery forces were amalgamated with the Air Force Base Guard Headquarters to form the “Air Force Air Defense and Base Guard Headquarters”, which was tasked with leading operations for air defense and base guards. This meant they had to not only scan the skies for aerial incursions but also guard against enemy threats on the ground.
In 2006, the Peace Project resulted in base guards being transferred to the Military Police Headquarters, while air defense missile forces under Missile Command were amalgamated with us to form the “Air Force Artillery Headquarters”. On March 1, the Headquarters was renamed to the “Air Defense Artillery Command”.
In 2012, the Tai-an Project saw units operating medium- and long-range air defense missiles transferred to Missile Command.
In 2017, under the Fei-jhan Project, the Air Defense Missile Command was amalgamated with our command and renamed the “Air Force Air Defense and Missile Command”.
In 2022, the Ministry of National Defense launched Project Chang-song, which led to the relocation of the Air Defense and Missile Command to Qishan, Kaohsiung. Our command is now under the Air Force Command Headquarters and is responsible for planning and supervising the establishment, deployment, stationing, combat readiness, allocation, and training of all air defense and missile forces.