Taiwan Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

siegecrossbow said:

NVMD. Well there must be some merit to the plane.

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There is. It's not Taiwan's premier jet, but it can handle itself better against China's older planes than the J-10. The upgrades will give it new avionics (as already discussed), a longer range and increase the number of missiles it carries from two to four.

A new engine would be nice, but it's not a priority. The F-16s need to be upgraded, and if new ones aren't sold there will be money for upgrading their engines as well as the features that would have been improved anyway.

Can anyone remember what the IDF is getting? I seem to remember something about the radar used by the F/A-18 but don't know where I got that from.

Mr T said:

There is. It's not Taiwan's premier jet, but it can handle itself better against China's older planes than the J-10. The upgrades will give it new avionics (as already discussed), a longer range and increase the number of missiles it carries from two to four.

A new engine would be nice, but it's not a priority. The F-16s need to be upgraded, and if new ones aren't sold there will be money for upgrading their engines as well as the features that would have been improved anyway.

Can anyone remember what the IDF is getting? I seem to remember something about the radar used by the F/A-18 but don't know where I got that from.

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I've looked up and down but I actually have no idea what radar would be put in the IDF either

Mr T said:

There is. It's not Taiwan's premier jet, but it can handle itself better against China's older planes than the J-10. The upgrades will give it new avionics (as already discussed), a longer range and increase the number of missiles it carries from two to four.

A new engine would be nice, but it's not a priority. The F-16s need to be upgraded, and if new ones aren't sold there will be money for upgrading their engines as well as the features that would have been improved anyway.

Can anyone remember what the IDF is getting? I seem to remember something about the radar used by the F/A-18 but don't know where I got that from.

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Would it be fair to say that the IDF is kind-of Taiwan's version of J-8 (in a developmental sense)? Both planes are first serious attempts at creating "indigenious planes" and both were less than satisfactory but still were inducted to fill gaps in both air force.

siegecrossbow said:

Would it be fair to say that the IDF is kind-of Taiwan's version of J-8 (in a developmental sense)? Both planes are first serious attempts at creating "indigenious planes" and both were less than satisfactory but still were inducted to fill gaps in both air force.

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the only thing less than satisfactory about the IDF is being underpowered, its avionics were pretty up to date for its time though dating from the 80's, RLG INS, MFDs

I wasn't aware it had an internal jammer, where would they have room ?? Are we sure this contract is for the IDFs?

Well, it looks like the SM-1 lives on for a while

Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $60,549,708 not-to-exceed undefinitized contract modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-05-C-5341) for Standard Missile-1 (SM-1) core support, missiles, spare components and parts.

This contract modification will provide for the procurement of one SM-1 Block VI-B inert operational missile; 407 MK 56 regrained dual thrust rocket motors (DTRMs); and one option to procure an additional three DTRMs.

This contract involves foreign military sales to Taiwan (98 percent) and Italy (2 percent). Work will be performed in Camden, Ark. (45 percent); Sacramento, Calif. (45 percent); and Tucson, Ariz. (10 percent). Work is expected to be completed by August 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The comments from air force spokesman Pan Kung-hsiao came amid Taiwanese media reports that the Obama administration has agreed to upgrade the island's fleet of American-made 146 F-16A/Bs, which it received more than a decade ago.

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This is a huge upgrade, and could be expensive. Thailand is spending $700 million to just upgrade 18 F-16A/Bs which consisted of a Northrop Grumman APG-68(V)9 radar, BAE Systems APX-113 combined interrogator and transponder, Terma ALQ-213 electronic warfare management system and BAE ALE-47 countermeasures dispenser system for example

This will certainly extend the F-16s life and capabilities, increasing their range (controversial for China) and extending their operational life, which will probably slow down calls for upgrading Taiwan's F-CK-1 fleet. We can also expect to see a deal for more AIM-9 and AIM-120s in my opinion.

Lastly what does this mean long term? Is the Obama government going to take the final step and resume sales of F-16s to the ROC?

The Taiwanese block 20s already have AIFF and ALE 47, they should get JHMCS and an AESA radar. The block 20s are NATO MLU avionics standard and it was only with the CCIP program that US F16s came to that standard.

Semi-Lobster said:

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This is a huge upgrade, and could be expensive. Thailand is spending $700 million to just upgrade 18 F-16A/Bs which consisted of a Northrop Grumman APG-68(V)9 radar, BAE Systems APX-113 combined interrogator and transponder, Terma ALQ-213 electronic warfare management system and BAE ALE-47 countermeasures dispenser system for example

This will certainly extend the F-16s life and capabilities, increasing their range (controversial for China) and extending their operational life, which will probably slow down calls for upgrading Taiwan's F-CK-1 fleet. We can also expect to see a deal for more AIM-9 and AIM-120s in my opinion.

Lastly what does this mean long term? Is the Obama government going to take the final step and resume sales of F-16s to the ROC?

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Assuming Taipei that cough up the money for new F-16s.

In other news, the US wants to sell C-130s to China now. Quid pro quo?

Skywatcher said:

Assuming Taipei that cough up the money for new F-16s.

In other news, the US wants to sell C-130s to China now. Quid pro quo?

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The legislature has already appropriated money a year or two ago for a buy of new planes as the US was concerned how serious Taipei was with previous funding issues when the present governing KMT were in opposition.

C130s in return for new F16s, upgraded block 20s, subs, heck, let them have C17s! Though I doubt the PLA will buy any major US systems, the embargo on parts for the Blackhawks they purchased 2 decades ago still rankles.

cptplt said:

The legislature has already appropriated money a year or two ago for a buy of new planes as the US was concerned how serious Taipei was with previous funding issues when the present governing KMT were in opposition.

C130s in return for new F16s, upgraded block 20s, subs, heck, let them have C17s! Though I doubt the PLA will buy any major US systems, the embargo on parts for the Blackhawks they purchased 2 decades ago still rankles.

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The question is can the ROC cough up money for both a multi-billion dollar upgrade and the new F-16 purchase? Looks like one of the other services will have to be cut.

Taiwan isn't going to get any subs, unless they get refurbished LA class SSNs.