Taiwan is on track to receive delivery of new armored fighting vehicles, jet trainers and improved barracks next year, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said.
Tsai made the comments in a directive issued following a presidential Cabinet briefing held at her office in Taipei on Tuesday, the Presidential Office said in a statement issued later that day.
The projected defense budget inclusive of funds and special reserves estimated at NT$606.8 billion (US$19.08 billion) — about 2.5 percent of GDP — would demonstrate the nation’s resolve to defend itself, Tsai was cited as saying.
Photo: AFP
The air force has so far received 17 Aerospace Industrial Development Corp T-5 Brave Eagle advanced jet trainers out of a total of 66 airframes ordered, meaning 25 percent have been delivered, she said, adding that eight more would be built before the end of this year.
Aerospace Industrial Development Corp plans to make 18 T-5 jets next year and the same number the year after that, and a final trio in 2026, a published schedule showed.
The plan to modernize the air force’s fleet of F-16A/Bs to F-16Vs would be completed by the end of the month, she said.
The first batch of the army’s M1A2T Abrams battle tanks would roll off the assembly line in the US by the end of the year and 683 eight-wheeled armored fighting vehicles are to be delivered by the end of next year, Tsai said.
The army believes the Abrams would be a boon to combat capabilities as the US-made tanks are considered to be markedly superior to China’s T-99s, she said.
In addition, the indigenous defense and submarine program would complete the building of 91 vessels including ships and submarines this year, she added.
Ninety out of the military’s 103 barrack construction projects are scheduled to be completed next year, which would improve the standard of living for 60,000 service members, Tsai said, adding that the government plans to build a total of 222 structures in 103 projects.
Taiwan’s military capabilities must be strengthened to protect national security and interests, and inspire confidence in Taiwan’s friends, Tsai said.
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