Given the international politics and historical economics around the PRC-ROC unfinished Chinese Civil War situation it's understandable how both sides still have large numbers of geriatric tanks in service. I believe the oldest models still in use in the PRC are Type 59's. The silver lining is that it is a sign that both sides have chosen better priorities for spending among their weapons as well as other than weapons.
Taiwan Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
- Thread starter Gollevainen
- Start date
Given the international politics and historical economics around the PRC-ROC unfinished Chinese Civil War situation it's understandable how both sides still have large numbers of geriatric tanks in service. I believe the oldest models still in use in the PRC are Type 59's. The silver lining is that it is a sign that both sides have chosen better priorities for spending among their weapons as well as other than weapons.
timepass
Brigadier
Taiwan Is Bringing Back Cold War Missiles to Deter China..
"Taiwan’s armed forces will rely on a missile system that was first developed nearly 60 years ago for frontline defense on their Pacific coastline against intruding Chinese aircraft.
The Taipei-based China Times revealed that the American radar- homing guided MIM-23 Hawk surface-to-air missile will soon be deployed to fend off low-flying Chinese fighters and bombers.
Launch pads and silos will be installed on key outlying territories, including Orchid Island and Green Island. The islands are strategically located on Taiwan’s southeastern coast close to routes used by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force for what Taiwan claims have been constant breaches of its airspace."
Taiwanese forces on Orchid Island will be able to intercept aircraft flying along the east coast and can also control activity in the adjacent Bashi Channel. Analysts say the Hawks can fill a defensive void and give Taiwan more leverage in a silent war of attrition with China that it seemed to be losing.
But the defense wall will be underpinned by a weapon that was first deployed by the US Army in 1959 and has not been used by any branch of the American military since 2002, though there has been a series of updates over the years. It is still in service with armed forces in Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Japan, among others.
Alex Huang, assistant professor at Tamkang University’s Institute of international Affairs and Strategic Studies, told the Hong Kong-based Ming Pao newspaper that although the missiles dated back to the Cold War era, they were still the backbone of Taiwan’s air defenses, and had undergone modifications to range, altitude and guidance systems.
The Hawks were supposed to be phased out by 2013 and replaced by Taiwan’s own Sky Bow series of surface-to-air anti-ballistic missile systems. It is not known when the changeover will now happen.
China’s state-owned media, including the Global Times and NetEase, lost no time jeering Taipei’s use of “ancient” missiles in derisory news reports. Online readers also poked fun at the missile’s limited firepower — it has a modest 54-kilogram warhead — and range of just 50 kilometers, boasting that more advanced Chinese fighters such as the J-20 could easily pierce the defensive shield.
The Hawks will have some back-up: it has been reported that batches of the highly mobile MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile have also been dispatched to the eastern counties of Hualien and Taitung.
"Taiwan’s armed forces will rely on a missile system that was first developed nearly 60 years ago for frontline defense on their Pacific coastline against intruding Chinese aircraft.
The Taipei-based China Times revealed that the American radar- homing guided MIM-23 Hawk surface-to-air missile will soon be deployed to fend off low-flying Chinese fighters and bombers.
Launch pads and silos will be installed on key outlying territories, including Orchid Island and Green Island. The islands are strategically located on Taiwan’s southeastern coast close to routes used by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force for what Taiwan claims have been constant breaches of its airspace."
Taiwanese forces on Orchid Island will be able to intercept aircraft flying along the east coast and can also control activity in the adjacent Bashi Channel. Analysts say the Hawks can fill a defensive void and give Taiwan more leverage in a silent war of attrition with China that it seemed to be losing.
But the defense wall will be underpinned by a weapon that was first deployed by the US Army in 1959 and has not been used by any branch of the American military since 2002, though there has been a series of updates over the years. It is still in service with armed forces in Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Japan, among others.
Alex Huang, assistant professor at Tamkang University’s Institute of international Affairs and Strategic Studies, told the Hong Kong-based Ming Pao newspaper that although the missiles dated back to the Cold War era, they were still the backbone of Taiwan’s air defenses, and had undergone modifications to range, altitude and guidance systems.
The Hawks were supposed to be phased out by 2013 and replaced by Taiwan’s own Sky Bow series of surface-to-air anti-ballistic missile systems. It is not known when the changeover will now happen.
China’s state-owned media, including the Global Times and NetEase, lost no time jeering Taipei’s use of “ancient” missiles in derisory news reports. Online readers also poked fun at the missile’s limited firepower — it has a modest 54-kilogram warhead — and range of just 50 kilometers, boasting that more advanced Chinese fighters such as the J-20 could easily pierce the defensive shield.
The Hawks will have some back-up: it has been reported that batches of the highly mobile MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile have also been dispatched to the eastern counties of Hualien and Taitung.
Skywatcher
Captain
Its easily outgunned by a YJ-91 though.
timepass
Brigadier
Taiwan says it will beef up defense to respond to China....
FILE - In this Jan. 30, 2018, file photo, Taiwanese soldiers move during a military exercises to show its determination to defend itself from Chinese threats, in Hualien County, eastern Taiwan. Taiwan will look to its domestic arms industry as well as foreign suppliers to respond to China's continuing military buildup, but has no interest in engaging in an arms race with its cross-strait rival, the defense ministry said Tuesday, March 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying, File)
"Taiwan will look to its domestic arms industry as well as foreign suppliers to respond to China's continuing military buildup, but has no interest in engaging in an arms race with its cross-strait rival, the defense ministry said Tuesday.
The remarks from spokesman Chen Chung-ji came a day after China announced an 8.1 percent rise in its military budget for this year to 1.1 trillion yuan ($173 billion), the world's second largest after the United States."
FILE - In this Jan. 30, 2018, file photo, Taiwanese soldiers move during a military exercises to show its determination to defend itself from Chinese threats, in Hualien County, eastern Taiwan. Taiwan will look to its domestic arms industry as well as foreign suppliers to respond to China's continuing military buildup, but has no interest in engaging in an arms race with its cross-strait rival, the defense ministry said Tuesday, March 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying, File)
"Taiwan will look to its domestic arms industry as well as foreign suppliers to respond to China's continuing military buildup, but has no interest in engaging in an arms race with its cross-strait rival, the defense ministry said Tuesday.
The remarks from spokesman Chen Chung-ji came a day after China announced an 8.1 percent rise in its military budget for this year to 1.1 trillion yuan ($173 billion), the world's second largest after the United States."
Jura The idiot
General
There have been rumors here in Taiwan that the government was reconsidering the F35 because of its unit and maintenance cost and were instead leaning to the F15 or F18E/F NG. Mostly they were looking at the F18 because they could get them a lot faster and cheaper and because the US government were more likely going to approve that sale, but as I said these were only rumours.
Skywatcher
Captain
There's no money for Taipei to buy F35s or aerial tankers. Would it kill them to write a realistic budget?
If Taiwan obtained a handful of f35's, they would npt be able to use them effectively .They would not be carrying a full fuel load because of the fear that pilots may defect to China
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
Bunk
It's been decades since the last defection drama on either side , and Official policy of the PRC is not to pay. Farther more there are easier ways to defect.
Not about love of money but love for the mother land.Besides since when has Taiwan had a miltary Jet that China might want to take a peep.