Taiwan Launches Ambitious Plans For New Weapons In All Fronts, Cleared to Buy C-27J

China's steady acquisition of advanced weaponry has driven ambitious Taiwanese requirements, including plans to procure stealth fighters, advanced jet trainers, long-range unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and main battle tanks.
Some requirements are awaiting sale notification to the US Congress or are still working through the Ministry of National Defense's internal programming process. Those include:
• MH-60R naval helicopters.
• Aircraft-deployed mines, such as the Quickstrike series.
• Shipboard electronic warfare system upgrades, such as the SLQ-32.
• Phalanx close-in weapon systems.
• Tactical datalink systems as part of a follow-on to the Po Sheng C4ISR upgrade program, now more commonly referred to as "Shyun An" or "Xun An."

Among the Chinese programs spurring Taiwan's response are Su-35 fighter aircraft and long-range S-400 surface-to-air missile systems. Chinese efforts in the South China Sea have also driven requirements for more ships and submarines, though these will be largely indigenous build programs.
Defense sources indicate Taiwan is interested in acquiring an additional AH-64E Apache attack helicopter, presumably as replacement for the unit lost in a training accident in 2014.
Taiwan needs to start replacing its fighter trainers in the next few years, but the Air Force has not announced a selection process for new trainers to replace aging F-5 fighters and AT-3 attack trainers, though plans for a tentative budget have been announced by Air Force officials for 2017.
The Air Force uses its F-5E/F fighters and AT-3 jet trainers for training before moving forward to one of three fighters: F-16A/Bs, Mirage 2000-5s or indigenous defense fighters.
The Air Force has said it wants to procure 68 advanced jet trainers for advanced training, lead-in and operations transitioning training, Shih said.
At present, there are three candidates: the US Air Force's T-X program, which is still under development; the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master; and the T-50 Golden Eagle built by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Lockheed Martin.
Taiwan's Air Force also has a requirement to replace aging single-engine propeller-driven Beechcraft T-34C Turbo Mentor trainers procured from the US in the 1980s. The T-34 squadron has suffered numerous fatal accidents over the past several years. The Beechcraft AT-6 is the most likely candidate.
Taiwan also has been pursuing a procurement for six C­27J Spartan medium-transport aircraft, along with an indigenous training and maintenance package, to replace the Air Force's Fokker 50 VIP aircraft. The US government has released the C-27J for Taiwan, but the Air Force is awaiting financing, which has been hampered by the cost of recent upgrades to its indigenous defense fighters and upcoming upgrades to its F-16A/B fighter fleet.
defensenews

Taiwan a potential buyer of retired US A-10 Warthogs

Taiwan has been tagged as a potential buyer of refurbished A-10 Thunderbolt II jets should the ground attack aircraft be retired from the US Air Force.
Boeing's chief engineer of off-Boeing programs, said at a media event on May 20 that the A-10 that the company has begun early discussions with the USAF to sell off refurbished A-10s to international customers.
If the USAF is allowed to retire its A-10 fleet, the most likely course of action given where the re-winging contract has progressed to is for Boeing to complete the service contract so the aircraft can be sold to interested international parties.
The refurbished A-10 could include a new engine, a cockpit upgrade including a helmet-mounted cueing system, and targeting pods. These proposed enhancements are only in a concept stage and are not being touted in response to any specific customer requests, he added.
Taiwan is a possible candidate given its enthusiasm in acquiring America's retired Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates last year. Coincidentally, Taiwan currently lacks a superior performance attack aircraft.
Other countries listed as potential interested parties include South Korea and Iraq.
wantchinatimes

Taiwan to deploy P-3Cs to Spratlys

Taiwan announced on 20 April that it will deploy newly-delivered P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft on surveillance missions over its claimed territory in the South China Sea.
The aircraft are currently deployed in anti-submarine reconnaissance and surveillance operations in and around Taiwan's air defence identification zone.
However, the scope of the P-3C operations will be expanded to include waters in southeastern Taiwan and areas around the Spratly and Pratas islands.
Taiwan has to date taken delivery of eight of a total of 12 refurbished P-3C Orion aircraft from the US. The remaining four are due to be delivered by the end of 2015.
The P-3Cs are set to replace the Republic of China Air Force's fleet of 11 S-2T anti-submarine aircraft, which have been in service for more than 40 years.
China has built islands at Cuarteron, Gaven, Hughes, Johnson South, Subi and Mischief reefs, while it is also putting pressure on the Philippines.
For its part, Taiwan is seeking to expand its runway on Taiping Island (Itu Aba) in the Spratlys from the existing 1,150 m-long and 30 m-wide strip, which was completed in early 2008.
janes

Taiwan to retire F-5, HAWK surface-to-air missile

Taiwan Defense Department will begin a new wave of organizational and restructuring which will see the Taiwanese Air Force reduce the total number of jets and some abolition of naval and air bases.
The defence ministry aims to purchase the locally-made Tien Kung 3 (Sky Bow 3) surface-to-air missile system between 2015 and 2024 to replace the ageing Hawk missile systems.
asiandefencenews

Taiwan Holds Computer War Games Against China Attack

Taiwan Monday launched computerized war games featuring its newly acquired AH-64 Apache helicopters helping counter a simulated attack by a Chinese aircraft carrier group.
The five-day drill, part of the island’s biggest annual military maneuvers to be held in September, is aimed at testing the island’s defense capability against the fast expanding military might of the giant neighbor.
A scenario of the drill was attacks on the east by a Chinese aircraft carrier group.
With military deployments focused on the west coast facing mainland China, the east is relatively vulnerable to any Chinese invasion.
The drill for the first time features weaponry acquired last year, including the latest variant of US-made Apaches which military gurus say is the world’s most lethal attack helicopter, P-3C submarine hunting aircraft, and an upgraded version of Taiwan’s Indigenous Defence Fighter.
defensenews

Taiwan air force to start upgrading F-16s from 2016

Taiwan's air force said that it will begin the process of upgrading its fleet of over 100 F-16A/B fighter jets in the second half of 2016.
Before upgrading its entire fleet of the fighters, Taiwan has sent several of the planes to the United States for a trial to see if the upgrade will work. The planes will be brought back to Taiwan once they pass the testing process.
If all goes well, Taiwan will then buy the parts and gain the necessary expertise from the US to upgrade the rest of its fleet.
The United States had agreed to upgrade Taiwan's F-16A/B fighters after Taiwan's government had repeatedly asked to buy 66 of the newer generation F-16C/D fighters from the US, without getting an affirmative answer.
Taiwan's government has argued that its military needs the more advanced C/D fighters to replace its aging fleet. It it has been reported that after the upgrades, the A/B fighters will match the performance of C/D fighters.
wantchinatimes

BAE Targets Lockheed in Asia's F-16 Upgrade Wars

BAE Systems is preparing to leapfrog over Lockheed Martin and gobble up international F-16 upgrade contracts should the US Air Force drop funding for its fighter jet radar upgrade program.
The Combat Avionics Programmed Extension Suite (CAPES) program — with Lockheed as systems integrator — would upgrade 300 US F-16 fighter aircraft and 146 Taiwan F-16s.
But budget constraints could force the US Air Force to transfer remaining funds from CAPES to the F-16 service-life extension program, raising the specter of increased prices for Taiwan if it has to go it alone on its F-16 upgrade program.
BAE already scored a victory in November by beating Lockheed for the contract to upgrade 134 South Korean KF-16C/D Block 52s.
Lockheed Martin’s head of F-16 business development, said that even if CAPES is defunded for the US jets, the Taiwan program would continue at the same cost.
Phase 1 of the CAPES program, the developmental phase, remains funded, but the production stage remains unclear.
BAE cut its teeth on F-16 upgrades in 2005 when it added a new fire control computer and other systems to US Air National Guard F-16s.
defensenews

Malfunction delays U.S. delivery of P-3C aircraft to Taiwan

The delivery of one of the 12 P-3C submarine-hunting aircraft from the United States was behind schedule due to a malfunction in its flight control system.
Taiwan received the first P-3C aircraft last September, and three more were scheduled to be delivered to Taiwan by the end of 2013.
However, during a legislative committee session Thursday, lawmaker Lin Yu-fang of the ruling Kuomintag revealed that the three sub-hunters should have been flown to Taiwan from Guam in December, but only one arrived here on Dec. 12.
Delivery of the other two was delayed due to a serious malfunction, after being flown there from mainland United States.
One of the two P-3Cs eventually arrived in Taiwan on Dec. 17, after its problem was fixed. The other one was still in Guam waiting to be repaired.
According to the schedule, five more P-3Cs will be delivered to Taiwan in 2014, and another three in 2015, when the P-3C fleet will be commissioned, the Air Force said.
The P-3Cs will replace a fleet of 11 S-2T anti-submarine aircraft that has been in service for more than 40 years.
The U.S. government approved the sale of the 12 P-3Cs with T-56 turboprop engines and related equipment and services in 2007.
focustaiwan

Taiwan to get first Apache helicopters Nov. 4

The first six Apache attack helicopters purchased from the United States will arrive in Taiwan Nov. 4.
The six AH-64Es will be part of an order of 30 of the U.S. attack helicopter that the military bought in 2008. The last batch should be delivered by the end of 2014.
Taiwan will be the world's first country other than the United States to deploy this type of attack chopper.
focustaiwan

Taiwan P-3C delivery ceremony set for late October

The military said Sunday it will hold a ceremony marking the delivery of the first P-3C submarine-hunting aircraft from the United States at the end of this month.
The first of 12 P-3C anti-submarine aircraft arrived in Taiwan on Sept. 25, and another three are set to arrive by the year's end. The 12 submarine-hunting aircraft and related equipment and services, are part of an arms deal with the U.S. announced in 2007.
All 12 aircraft are scheduled to arrive by 2015 and will be housed at the Republic of China Air Force's Pingtung air base.
focustaiwan

First RoCAF P-3C arrives in Taiwan

First of 12 Lockheed Martin P-3C for Taiwan arrived at Pingtung AFB on Sept. 25.

P-3C maritime patrol aircraft to arrive in Taiwan

The first of a batch of P-C marine patrol aircraft purchased from the US will arrive in the country today or tomorrow depending on the impact of Typhoon Usagi.
Apple Daily reported yesterday that according to the air force, the P-3C Orion will take off from the US and stop in Guam or Hawaii before arriving at Pingtung Air Force Base.
The aircraft will be flown by US pilots with Taiwanese air force personnel on board.
taipeitimes

US Budget Woes Could Affect Taiwan F-16 Upgrades

Despite pains by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) to keep the F-16 upgrade program on course, the effort could be derailed by US defense budget cuts that endanger the US Air Force’s Combat Avionics Programmed Extension Suite (CAPES) program for its own F-16s.
defensenews

Taiwan’s CSIST unveils first VTOL UAV

Taiwan’s Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology will unveil its first VTOL unmanned aircraft, dubbed Mystic Eye, at the 2013 Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition.
alert5

Taiwn makes pitch for purchase of F-35 fighter jets

A delegation from Taiwan said in Washington that Taiwan wants to purchase advanced F-35 fighter jets that best suit its defense needs.
focustaiwan

Upgraded E-2K inducted into ROCAF service

Four early warning aircraft that were previously sent to the United States for upgrades officially joined the Republic of China Air Force yesterday.

The aircraft, originally called E-2T, have been renamed E-2K following the upgrades, were commissioned during a ceremony yesterday at the Air Force 439 wing located in central city of Taichung yesterday, the Air Force said in a released statement.

chinapost

Taiwan receives upgraded E-2K early warning aircraft

Two upgraded E-2K airborne early warning aircraft which were sent to United States for upgrading were transported to Kaohsiung International Airport Station in southern Taiwan Saturday for follow-up tests and inspections.
In October 2008, the U.S. agreed to the first arms sales deal to Taiwan since President Ma Ying-jeou took office, which included the US$250

focustaiwan

Taiwan upgrades dozens of fighter jets

Taiwan plans to complete the first stage of an ambitious plan to upgrade its fighter jet force by the end of 2013, in an effort to maintain a credible deterrent against China into the 2030s.
Some 60 of Taiwan’s Indigenous Defence Fighters (IDFs) will be upgraded and ready for deployment within 12 months, according to a report submitted to parliament by the defence ministry.

defencetalk

Lockheed Martin wins $1.85bn contract to upgrade Taiwan's F-16s

The US government has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $1.85 billion to upgrade the avionics of 145 Taiwanese Lockheed Martin F-16 A/B aircraft.

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Taiwanese Air Force completes Wan Chien missiles flight tests

The Taiwanese Air Force has completed flight tests of the domestically manufactured Wan Chien long-range air-to-surface missile, ASM, military officials have revealed.

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