Taiwan's Reaction to PLA Force Modernization
- Thread starter unknauthr
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First you say that three main fighter types make up the ROCAF and then you say that just because a small number of them aren't combat-ready it means the PLAAF will gain air superiority.
What you've said isn't logical.
The ROCAF did carve out many mountain caves as hardened shelters, and built highways that could double as emergency air strips.
But the amount of work done is probably not comparable to Swedes, because Sweden faced a huge Soviet threat during Cold War era, while ROCAF enjoyed relative safety across the sea, as well as technical and quality edge over PLAAF until 1990s.
The JAS-39 is a fine aircraft, but I don't think the EU would sell. Maybe tech transfer? ROCAF is stuck with F-16 imports for now. Though I think they should revive funding for ADF... locally made weapons don't face as much restrictions as US munition export, which requires congressional approval.
But the amount of work done is probably not comparable to Swedes, because Sweden faced a huge Soviet threat during Cold War era, while ROCAF enjoyed relative safety across the sea, as well as technical and quality edge over PLAAF until 1990s.
The JAS-39 is a fine aircraft, but I don't think the EU would sell. Maybe tech transfer? ROCAF is stuck with F-16 imports for now. Though I think they should revive funding for ADF... locally made weapons don't face as much restrictions as US munition export, which requires congressional approval.
How is that so? Usually a single rotten apple in the basket is a good indication that the other apples in the basket is also rotten. Of all the three fighter types, the Mirage 2000-5 has the highest regard in all of the ROCAF, and the Dash Fives are stationed to protect the northern sector of the island, which is the most vital and prosperous. So all this is not encouraging.
F-16s outside the US have also suffered low operability rates, like those in the Netherlands.
adeptitus said:
The Sovs can't cross to Sweden without going through Finland first, and then there is the Baltic sea in between. Lets say that the PRC is much closer to the ROC than the Soviet Union was to Sweden.
While the Soviet threat is huge, it wasn't high tech. This isn't the era of PGMs, and the vast majority of the attackers are Fitters and Floggers carrying rocket pods and iron bombs. And the Swedes are not facing the whole of the Warsaw Pact airforce, they're only facing a side part of it, with the majority aimed at West Germany. Add to that, Sweden has a much larger territory to disperse and hide its airforce than Taiwan.
West Germany had a lot of hardened shelters and airbases, but they knew that in the face of a combined Soviet SSM/Attacker/Spetnaz attack, the bases will not stand a chance, so NATO has a massive backup plan to roll back its airforces further west.
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Erm, one needs evidence for that. Just because other countries have had problems does not mean Taiwan by default must. Besides, is China immune from similar problems?
The point I made was that he was making a wild accusation that the PLAAF would achieve air-superiority (not just that it would have the edge) because one fighter type had somewhat poor availability. Problems with the Mirage would help China in that respect, but not make it certain at all.
I came across an article from a Taiwanese newspaper, where the ROCAF said the availability of its planes currently is:
- IDF: 63%, which they will raise to 75%
- Mirage 2000-5: 65% (up from 54% in media reports last month) - they will improve this once they receive more parts in September that had been delayed
- F-16: 75%
I think 75% is the ministerial target, though I don't know whether that's minimum, optimum, etc.
China had operability problems with their Flankers before, but it does not seem that way starting from 2001 onwards. Unlike the ROCAF, the PLAAF apparently spoils its Flanker units with the most of everything, spares and mechanics included. In 2004, the overhaul center has also become 2003 operational.
The inherent advantage of China has over Taiwan is two fold one it manufactures the parts inland (including the Flankers) and two, it has a much bigger budget to spend matched with a greater political willingness to make use of it. This availability extends to not just parts but also with live munitions and missiles.
The inherent advantage of China has over Taiwan is two fold one it manufactures the parts inland (including the Flankers) and two, it has a much bigger budget to spend matched with a greater political willingness to make use of it. This availability extends to not just parts but also with live munitions and missiles.
Clouded Leopard
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The USS Barbel was the last diesel sub ever built in the United States. It's a fairly modern design, and I guess it could be fixed up with modern electronics and attack systems.
Clouded Leopard
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China doesn't protect its planes very well from the elements, though. Kanwa Defense ran an article on how PLAAF Flankers all sat in exposed hangars with no protective doors, despite the fact that Fujian and other coastal areas are vulnerable to typhoons.
That's last decade info. Look around the pictures now, and you can see all sorts of aircraft inside hangers. Which major airforce base is in Fujian by the way? The one in Suixi has been reinforced. Pretty much the rest are not in typhoon region. PLAAF airbases are often built near hills and mountains which also provide underground hangers.
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