A live exercise demonstrating the anti-air capabilities of the military’s Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement at Ching Chuan Kang (清泉崗) Air Base in Taichung yesterday was intended to bolster public confidence in its ability to defend the nation during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, the military said.
The exercise simulated a scenario in which the Ministry of National Defense has ordered an increase in defense readiness conditions, necessitating all anti-air personnel to report to their respective areas of operation and prepare their systems.
The military said that radar sets must do a 360-degree sweep test before the launching racks are elevated to ensure that the missiles could be launched remotely by the combat control centers.
Photo: CNA
First Company Commander Major Lee Kuan-yu (李冠佑) of the 633rd Battalion, 795th Brigade yesterday said that his company was tasked with regional anti-air operations and would comply with orders to launch missiles or to relocate to preserve force integrity.
The company completed all mobile operations within the given time limit, although information on actual deployment times was confidential, Lee said.
Each PAC-3 truck has eight launchers, with four dedicated to carrying PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles respectively, Lee said, adding that the tactical combat center’s computer systems allowed operators to choose which missiles to launch.
The live exercise yesterday also simulated a refueling and rearming of the Air Force’s Third Tactical Combat Wing after combat operations, the military said.
The goal of the exercise was for the ground crew to rearm Taiwan’s Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) jets with two AIM-9P4 Sidewinder missiles on each wing tip, one Tian Jian II (天劍, Sky Sword) missile on its ventral bay and to completely restock the jet’s autocannon ammunition within five minutes, it said.
The IDF jets, which are the main aircraft assigned to alert duty, are expected to complete preparations and take off within five minutes of being scrambled, Air Force Major Nian Xiao-te (粘孝德) said.
Asked whether the IDF jets could be scrambled in time, as People’s Liberation Army Air Force jets are only three minutes away from Taiwan proper once they breach Taiwanese air space, Nian said the location of the Ching Chuan Kang Air Base ensures that IDF jets can intercept Chinese jets within two minutes of takeoff.
Separately, a DA-40 plane registered under Apex Aviation had almost accidentally landed in Hualien County’s Chiashan Air Base, mistaking the military base for the civilian Hualien Airport, the air force headquarters said.
The pilot realized the error and conducted a go-around without touching down, the air force said.
The air force is working with the Civil Aviation Administration to ascertain how the incident occurred.
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