The armed forces yesterday launched a five-day series of computer-simulated exercises incorporating maritime patrol aircraft and attack helicopters that are scheduled to enter service over the next year.
The computer scenario, which simulates an attack from China and is part of the Han Kuang 28 series of military exercises, included P-3C “Orion” maritime patrol aircraft and AH-64D Longbow attack helicopters, among other platforms, to see how they would fare in a combat environment.
Taiwan has signed contracts with the US for 12 refurbished P-3C aircraft, which will provide a much-needed boost to the nation’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
The aircraft will replace the aging S-2T marine patrol aircraft.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has used the P-3C to great effect in its efforts to monitor intrusions by foreign ships in its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.
The military has also ordered from the US 30 AH-64D Longbow attack helicopters, whose main use will be for near-shore defense.
The first deliveries of P-3Cs and AH-64Ds are expected to begin within the next year.
The Ministry of National Defense confirmed that the exercise began yesterday, but did not provide further details.
However, defense officials said recently that the computer simulation would also include information and electronic warfare capabilities, two sectors in which US military officials are believed to be providing behind-the-scenes assistance.
Countermeasures to ballistic and cruise missile attacks, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles — all of which would likely play a role in the opening shots of war in the Taiwan Strait — will also be part of the exercise, reports said.
The five-day exercise, which involves the army, navy and air force, follows another five-day drill held in late April, which also simulated an attack by China.
The military also held a live-fire exercise at the Tri-Service Joint Training Base at Paolishan (保力山) in Henchun (恆春), Pingtung County, early last month following criticism that the exercises in April did not feature live ammunition.
Minister of National Defense Kao Hua-chu (高華柱) told the legislature recently that the military would incorporate lessons learned from this year’s computer-assisted war games into next year’s military exercises.
Additional reporting by AFP
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
A wild live dugong was found in Taiwan for the first time in 88 years, after it was accidentally caught by a fisher’s net on Tuesday in Yilan County’s Fenniaolin (粉鳥林). This is the first sighting of the species in Taiwan since 1937, having already been considered “extinct” in the country and considered as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A fisher surnamed Chen (陳) went to Fenniaolin to collect the fish in his netting, but instead caught a 3m long, 500kg dugong. The fisher released the animal back into the wild, not realizing it was an endangered species at
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and
RSS