Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

Data Figure: Taiwan currently equipped F-16B fighter.

Although U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had said the United States before October 1 will decide whether to sell Taiwan F-16C/D fighters. However, the latest issue of the U.S. “Defense News” revealed that the U.S. government has informed Taiwan, not to sell Taiwan F-16C/D fighters, replaced the part of Taiwan’s existing F-16A/B aircraft upgrade.

“Defense News,” 15 said, Taiwan’s “Defense” officials said the United States, under pressure from the Chinese mainland will refuse to sell new F-16 fighters, but agreed to upgrade the existing old F-units 16 aircraft radar systems. Reported that the U.S. Department of Defense Delegation visited Taiwan last week to inform the United States refused to sell Taiwan the new machine’s decision, and expressed willingness to upgrade Taiwan’s existing F-16A/B aircraft, including upgraded electronically scanned phased-array radar systems. The source said that official news will be announced at the end.

the U.S. defense industry insiders, the U.S. delegation to the Taiwan side introduced a package of existing aircraft upgrade program. The United States proposed upgrade plan covers 146 F-16A/B fighters. Taiwan back in 2009 to upgrade to the U.S. side on the aircraft application, the upgrade is expected to cost up to $ 4.2 billion. ? Lockheed Martin from the sources said, the U.S. proposed to upgrade the program will provide upgrades over the Taiwan side to the original application for more advanced technology, in order to offset the new machine refused to sell the discontent caused by the Taiwan side. Upgrade program will be added to intercept and save the enemy radar signals, and then use the same frequency to jam enemy radar. In addition will also increase the aircraft payload, upgraded fighter equipped with missiles, add a digital radar warning receiver, a helmet guidance system and the central column displays.

“Taipei Times” said that this part of the upgrade program is the U.S. or Taiwan side in the end decided it was not clear. Originally Taiwan F-16C/D of military procurement budget set at $ 5.5 billion, the new equipment, including AESA radar, much better than a simple upgrade. Charge of the project is U.S. arms company Lockheed Martin ?. ? Lockheed Martin will work with Taiwan Aerospace, to install new equipment on the aircraft. The report also cited “Defense News” Asia director Yan Wende as saying that the so-called F-16A/B upgrade, it will not be comprehensive. Taiwan may not be present United States of 146 F-16A/B all the upgrades, but only on the part of the aircraft to be upgraded.

Singapore, “Lianhe Zaobao,” 15 said the U.S. Institute in Taiwan, has denied the United States to take a decision, the U.S. Defense Department officials declined to say whether they had sent to Taiwan. “Lianhe Zaobao,” also said that Taiwan’s “defense” of U.S. officials are very disappointed with this decision. But when asked about related reports, Taiwan’s “Defense Ministry”, said Andrew Yang, Vice Minister, the authorities are still fighting for them. He said: “So far, we have not received the decision of the United States.”

Hong Kong, “the assessment agency,” 15, also called for “Defense News” broke the news, Taiwan’s “Defense Ministry” speech people Luoshao and that did not receive such information, saying the U.S. has said it is for the F-16C/D fighters for an internal review with the coordination of operations. Luo Shao and stressed that Taiwan has always hoped that the U.S. emphasis on “cross-strait military imbalance” problem, so I hope the United States agreed to sell F-16C/D fighters, F-16C/D, and F-16A/B upgrade two procurement cases are mutually exclusive, There is no conflict. ▲ (newspaper in the U.S., UK special correspondent Fan Yang Twins ● Wang Zhi Ji)