Without completed infrastructure and training, the expedited sale of new F-16s from the US could become a burden rather than a help, a military official said yesterday.
Reuters on Thursday last week reported that Washington is looking to accelerate the delivery of 66 new F-16C/D Block 70 aircraft in response to what it sees as increasing intimidation by Beijing.
Under the terms of the original US$8 billion deal signed in 2019, the US is expected to deliver a single-seater and double-seater for testing next year, then deliver the 66 new aircraft in batches of four or five from 2024 to 2026.
Photo: Bloomberg
The officials cited by Reuters had not yet figured out how to expedite the delivery, which would likely delay deliveries to other US partners facing threats from Iran and Russia.
However, a military official yesterday played down the significance of the move, as it would still take time to build out the necessary infrastructure and train personnel.
In particular, facilities at Chihhang Air Base in Taitung County where the jets would be stationed are still under construction, the former air force general said on condition of anonymity.
Rather than acquiring new aircraft earlier than planned, it would be better to accelerate upgrades of older F-16A/B aircraft, as well as radar systems for Mirage 2000s and Indigenous Defense Fighter jets, as it would be more useful against the Chinese threat, the military official said.
Apart from construction, pilots and support personnel are still being trained, retired air force lieutenant general Chang Yan-ting (張延廷) said, adding that accepting deliveries too early would be like “changing your clothes while wearing them.”
The Block 70 might use the same radar system as the F-16A/B Block 20, but since the engines are not the same, it would force trainees and ground mechanics to “burn the candle at both ends,” learning multiple systems at once, he added.
It would be good to receive the planes as fast as possible, as the US air force is quickly replacing its F-16s, but the key to countering hostile threats is to keep personnel, logistics and infrastructure ahead of the curve, Chang said.
Institute for National Defense and Security Research senior analyst Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲) was more upbeat on the accelerated schedule, saying that early delivery would allow pilots to familiarize themselves with the newest aircraft along with the newly upgraded F-16A/Bs.
CAUTION: Based on intelligence from the nation’s security agencies, MOFA has cautioned Taiwanese travelers about heightened safety risks in China-friendly countries The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday urged Taiwanese to be aware of their safety when traveling abroad, especially in countries that are friendly to China. China in June last year issued 22 guidelines that allow its courts to try in absentia and sentence to death so-called “diehard” Taiwanese independence activists, even though Chinese courts have no jurisdiction in Taiwan. Late last month, a senior Chinese official gave closed-door instructions to state security units to implement the guidelines in countries friendly to China, a government memo and a senior Taiwan security official said, based on information gathered by Taiwan’s intelligence agency. The
The National Immigration Agency (NIA) said yesterday that it will revoke the dependent-based residence permit of a Chinese social media influencer who reportedly “openly advocated for [China’s] unification through military force” with Taiwan. The Chinese national, identified by her surname Liu (劉), will have her residence permit revoked in accordance with Article 14 of the “Measures for the permission of family- based residence, long-term residence and settlement of people from the Mainland Area in the Taiwan Area,” the NIA said in a news release. The agency explained it received reports that Liu made “unifying Taiwan through military force” statements on her online
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, said yesterday that it is looking to hire 8,000 people this year, at a time when the tech giant is expanding production capacity to maintain its lead over competitors. To attract talent, TSMC would launch a large-scale recruitment campaign on campuses across Taiwan, where a newly recruited engineer with a master’s degree could expect to receive an average salary of NT$2.2 million (US$60,912), which is much higher than the 2023 national average of NT$709,000 for those in the same category, according to government statistics. TSMC, which accounted for more than 60 percent
Tung Tzu-hsien (童子賢), a Taiwanese businessman and deputy convener of the nation’s National Climate Change Committee, said yesterday that “electrical power is national power” and nuclear energy is “very important to Taiwan.” Tung made the remarks, suggesting that his views do not align with the country’s current official policy of phasing out nuclear energy, at a forum organized by the Taiwan People’s Party titled “Challenges and Prospects of Taiwan’s AI Industry and Energy Policy.” “Taiwan is currently pursuing industries with high added- value and is developing vigorously, and this all requires electricity,” said the chairman
RSS