The main issue would be the air frame. Although the Taiwanese F-16s were admittedly the last A/Bs produced I don't know how long they could last if the pilots wish to get good training.
Taiwan Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
- Thread starter Gollevainen
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The main issue would be the air frame. Although the Taiwanese F-16s were admittedly the last A/Bs produced I don't know how long they could last if the pilots wish to get good training.
Semi-Lobster
Junior Member
The article says that the ROCAF's F-16A/Bs will be upgraded to F-16C/D standards, not E/F standard. I Highly doubt that they will receive an AESA radar but be upgraded to 50/52 standard (so probably a PD AN/APG-68(V)9) with a refurbishment of the aircraft's airframe.
The BBC article on the upgrade seems to go very much out of its way (the first paragraph!) to suggest that this is a very strong indication that the US will NOT sell new F-16s to the ROC
The BBC article on the upgrade seems to go very much out of its way (the first paragraph!) to suggest that this is a very strong indication that the US will NOT sell new F-16s to the ROC
MwRYum
Major
The DSCA just released a proposed checklist of the F-16A/B upgrade kits...
This, if all implemented, will put ROCAF F-16 fleet at Block 52+/60 standard, arguably the best in East Asia, alas airframe hours may be a concern here, and replacement of engine is only proposed as a study; the AESA radar is still of undisclosed model (probably to be selected by tender) but JHMCS and AIM-9X will definitely make it a notch superior than anything PLAAF have until the PL-10 enter service; then there's the JDAM kits.
Unless the J-10B could enter service proper soon and in significant numbers, the impact upon PLAAF won't be a small one...
This, if all implemented, will put ROCAF F-16 fleet at Block 52+/60 standard, arguably the best in East Asia, alas airframe hours may be a concern here, and replacement of engine is only proposed as a study; the AESA radar is still of undisclosed model (probably to be selected by tender) but JHMCS and AIM-9X will definitely make it a notch superior than anything PLAAF have until the PL-10 enter service; then there's the JDAM kits.
Unless the J-10B could enter service proper soon and in significant numbers, the impact upon PLAAF won't be a small one...
Semi-Lobster
Junior Member
Well I was proven wrong pretty fast!
These are significant upgrades to the ROCAF's F-16A/B capabilities. I wonder what radar will be chosen AN/APG-80, SABR? I doubt it will be the SELEX Vixen 500E. Interesting how the US blocked the sale of AESA radar to South Korea for their FA-50 project but are willing to give Taiwan AESA radar!
Mr T
Senior Member
A fairly comprehensive upgrade. I guess new engines would have been nice, but they're not exactly critical right now. As MwRYum said, airframe hours might be an issue.
Also given the cost of the upgrade, I'm not sure Taiwan could afford all that, the arms previously authorised and now being paid for, as well as new F-16s. Guess they'll just have to hope they get released later. If not, it's back to AIDC to see if they can come up with something (even if they have to throw design money at them for years).
Maybe it's down to competition. The US doesn't want to go out of its way to help South Korea build its own top-notch plane but is happy to upgrade US-build F-16s.
Also given the cost of the upgrade, I'm not sure Taiwan could afford all that, the arms previously authorised and now being paid for, as well as new F-16s. Guess they'll just have to hope they get released later. If not, it's back to AIDC to see if they can come up with something (even if they have to throw design money at them for years).
Maybe it's down to competition. The US doesn't want to go out of its way to help South Korea build its own top-notch plane but is happy to upgrade US-build F-16s.
The highest time block 20s delivered in 96 can only have about 3000hrs at most on them. Only 8 ROCAF pilots have had more than 1000hrs on type. They should be good for double that even without any structural upgrades. They were also built with many C/D structures (GD no longer had suppliers for some A/B airframe parts) so were "strengthened from birth".
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The problem with ROCAF...
or any foreseenable opponents of PLAAF is that...
the planes can take off. but they only get to take off once.
before they land their airbases would prob be obliterated.
Well I was proven wrong pretty fast!
It's got to be SABR
Semi-Lobster
Junior Member
Could be Raytheon's RACR too.
Do we know how many upgraded F-16A/Bs will be completed per year?
I feel that ROCAF shouldn't be focusing on the qualitative but more the quantitative -- or ROC military should focus on SSKs and assymetrical warfare instead; but I suppose you take what you can get.
The biggest challenge will be the PLA's SRBMs and the PLAAFs superior AEW&C, EW and aircraft numbers where I think macro will be more important than micro so to speak. That is the slight advantage an aircraft has against an individual opfor is diluted when the opfor has mostly comparable aircraft, superior numbers of said aircraft and force multipliers to make up or exceed the disparity.
Still I think this is the best anyone could have hoped for; US can say they're still supporting Taiwan, ROCAF gets some better planes, PLAAF/China won't be massively worried but might accelerate some of their existing fighter programs to have, or keep moving the balance of power in their favour.