Taiwan Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

After reading a few of desperate french articles on recent cancelled arm sales, I do not think that France will avoid a customer like Taiwan in a possible arm deal. Specially for selling warplanes like Rafale or Mirage 2000-9 from UAE. Otherwise, France will soon see another part of its industry collapsing... Mark my words.

Aero_Wing_32 said:

After reading a few of desperate french articles on recent cancelled arm sales, I do not think that France will avoid a customer like Taiwan in a possible arm deal. Specially for selling warplanes like Rafale or Mirage 2000-9 from UAE. Otherwise, France will soon see another part of its industry collapsing... Mark my words.

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Well if they do try for ROC then they better make all of this worth Taiwan's time. The Taiwanese government is practically revolving their entire national defence on obtaining more F-16s. They have a deal to refurbish their existing F-16 fleet, they're finally upgrading their IDFs all that's left is to replace the F-5Es. If France has any hope of getting in Taiwan they better move fast to not only properly support their existing Mirage 2000 fleet, but to do so cheaply and efficiently and only then could they introduce a plan for additional aircraft.

The article cptplt posted is also important to note how horribly the ROC's aerospace industry is atrophying and couple possibly collapse. A while ago France offered to move the Mirage 2000s assembly line to India, perhaps they could do so for Taiwan in order to rebuilt its aerospace industry? All of this is speculation though, it will all come down to the US and its F-16s

Semi-Lobster said:

The article cptplt posted is also important to note how horribly the ROC's aerospace industry is atrophying and couple possibly collapse. A while ago France offered to move the Mirage 2000s assembly line to India, perhaps they could do so for Taiwan in order to rebuilt its aerospace industry? All of this is speculation though, it will all come down to the US and its F-16s

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Taipei doesn't have the money for both a Mirage 2000 production line and buying more F-16s. Besides, the IDF is capable enough with new upgrades.

Skywatcher said:

Taipei doesn't have the money for both a Mirage 2000 production line and buying more F-16s. Besides, the IDF is capable enough with new upgrades.

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I was trying to angle at the possibility that the Mirage 2000 may make a decent enough Plan B if the US decides against selling additional F-16s to the ROC which is still a possibility. The IDF with upgrades is capable of course but the issue is not the IDF or the F-16s the ROCAF already operates but in replacing its F-5E aircraft which are desperately due for a replacement.

The F-16 refurbishment is a great boon to the ROCAF's capabilities though as is the IDF upgrades. Perhaps they are banking on increasingly the capabilities of these aircraft in order to counteract the retirement of their Mirage 2000-5 fleet in the near future.

Semi-Lobster said:

The F-16 refurbishment is a great boon to the ROCAF's capabilities though as is the IDF upgrades. Perhaps they are banking on increasingly the capabilities of these aircraft in order to counteract the retirement of their Mirage 2000-5 fleet in the near future.

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A BIG dream for american lobbyist still active in Taiwan strait... but definitely not acceptable for the ROCAF.

Neither the IDF nor the F-16 A/B are as capable as the Mirage 2000-5 fleet does in A2A interception. Just read recent official interviews from taiwanase MoD. The Indian Mirage upgrade is a great chance for Taiwan that can ask for the same level to their warplanes.

You can also read the recent and big article from EWDEFENSE magazine (2010 sep vol.29). :coffee: This one praises the quality of the french birds and the great cooperation between the 2 armies and Dassault Aviation. This takes about 10 pages of chinese mandarin!

But I agree that a complete upgrade of the ROCAF fleet is urgently needed now. From IDF to F-16 and Mirage fleets. And just say bye bye to the crapy F-5s.

Aero_Wing_32 said:

A BIG dream for american lobbyist still active in Taiwan strait... but definitely not acceptable for the ROCAF.

Neither the IDF nor the F-16 A/B are as capable as the Mirage 2000-5 fleet does in A2A interception. Just read recent official interviews from taiwanase MoD. The Indian Mirage upgrade is a great chance for Taiwan that can ask for the same level to their warplanes.

You can also read the recent and big article from EWDEFENSE magazine (2010 sep vol.29). :coffee: This one praises the quality of the french birds and the great cooperation between the 2 armies and Dassault Aviation. This takes about 10 pages of chinese mandarin!

But I agree that a complete upgrade of the ROCAF fleet is urgently needed now. From IDF to F-16 and Mirage fleets. And just say bye bye to the crapy F-5s.

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The Mirage 2000-5 may be the most capable fighter in the ROCAF's arsenal but:

The report notes the F-5s are scheduled for retirement in 2014 and the Mirage fleet suffers from high maintenance costs and chronically low availability rates.

The report indicates the per-flight-hour cost of the Mirage fighter is "more than triple" that of the IDF and "five times" that of the F-16A/B. Though the Mirages comprise only 17 percent of the fighter fleet, their operational costs "consume nearly 59%" of the total operations and maintenance budget. Availability has been as low as 58 percent and pilots now only fly eight-15 hours per month.

The report indicates that within the next five-10 years, Taiwan's fighter strength will drop from 387 to 327 to 271, respectively, as the F-5 and Mirage fighters are phased out.

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Oh come on! This report is the same as before, badly informed from US lobbyist, pushing hardly the deal for F-16C/D. But annoyed by Obama's indecision about Taiwan strait issues. That's all and pretty simple. And we can see the same where french have competitive positions worldwide. US arm sellers are also known to depreciate their competitors when they re in danger in some of their historical markets. French officials are aware of these methods.

Aero_Wing_32 said:

Oh come on! This report is the same as before, badly informed from US lobbyist, pushing hardly the deal for F-16C/D. But annoyed by Obama's indecision about Taiwan strait issues. That's all and pretty simple. And we can see the same where french have competitive positions worldwide. US arm sellers are also known to depreciate their competitors when they re in danger in some of their historical markets. French officials are aware of these methods.

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While the US-Taiwan Business Council can be seen as a rather biased group, they are one of the largest NPOs operating between Taipei and Washington, and have a decent amount of clout and insider knowledge. To the extent that the ROCAF would withdraw the Mirage 2000-5 from service is rather extreme assumtpion on their part but we can at least assume that on cost/per hour basis in the air, the Mirage 2000 is more expensive to operate than the other aircraft the ROC are currently operating and any part on Dassault to reduce these costs but certainly be favourable to them for any future dealings with military contracts on the island.

Semi-Lobster said:

While the US-Taiwan Business Council can be seen as a rather biased group, they are one of the largest NPOs operating between Taipei and Washington, and have a decent amount of clout and insider knowledge. To the extent that the ROCAF would withdraw the Mirage 2000-5 from service is rather extreme assumtpion on their part but we can at least assume that on cost/per hour basis in the air, the Mirage 2000 is more expensive to operate than the other aircraft the ROC are currently operating and any part on Dassault to reduce these costs but certainly be favourable to them for any future dealings with military contracts on the island.

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...Insider knowledge defending the US interests, that's all! Clearly!

Who can be cheaper than the US in term of weaponry cost? Nobody. Specially with Taiwan since they control the worldwide market, signed the past Taiwan Relations Act, and also let the USD clearly deflating now!

So, they should let the french away of that and let Taiwan military officials and decision makers decide what to do with them. Clearly now, many taiwanese don't feel fully supported by their historical partner. And IMHO wouldn't give lessons about french Mirages.

Aero_Wing_32 said:

...Insider knowledge defending the US interests, that's all! Clearly!

Who can be cheaper than the US in term of weaponry cost? Nobody. Specially with Taiwan since they control the worldwide market, signed the past Taiwan Relations Act, and also let the USD clearly deflating now!

So, they should let the french away of that and let Taiwan military officials and decision makers decide what to do with them. Clearly now, many taiwanese don't feel fully supported by their historical partner. And IMHO wouldn't give lessons about french Mirages.

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It seems that cost hasn't been the factor with the cutting of flight times for the ROCAF Mirages but engine troubles