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

data for: U.S. MQ-1C” Air Warrior “UAV

reporter/Weidong Xu

1 29, the U.S. announced the sale to Taiwan including the “Black Hawk” helicopter, “Patriot”-3 missile, including many advanced equipment, but for the military in Taiwan and the U.S. arms companies, these advanced weapons can not seem to “satisfy the appetite.” According to the United States, “Defense News” website reported on January 26, Taiwan also saw the most advanced U.S. MQ-1C “Air Warriors” unmanned aerial vehicles, and has had contact with the U.S. Air Force.

can fully monitor the Taiwan Strait

“Defense News” website, as early as 2009, the Air Force had “air warriors” unmanned aerial vehicles to Taiwan Air Force to provide a briefing. A U.S. official said this, “the Air Force hopes to improve Taiwan-based reconnaissance capability requirements, the Air Force provided a briefing, but the Taiwan Air Force is currently only in gathering information stage.” “Air warriors” developed by the U.S. company General Atomics, is in Afghanistan and Iraq the limelight of the MQ-1 “Predator” unmanned aerial vehicle upgrade models, but the UAV is not equipped with weapons, mainly for reconnaissance missions.

Currently, Taiwan’s Zhongshan Institute of Science is developing a variety of UAVs, but so far can not meet Taiwan’s advanced, long range, multi-UAV standards. “Defense News” that Taiwan’s air force is to purchase “air warriors” unmanned aerial vehicles to perform reconnaissance missions, and monitor the sea lanes and coastal areas. According to the British, “Flight International” website previously disclosed, “Air Warrior” UAV is equipped with advanced multi-spectral targeting system that can move from the air to provide detailed video. In addition, the “air warriors” can also be equipped with synthetic aperture radar pods, ground to further enhance the complex environment reconnaissance capabilities. Advanced engines of its equipment, to ensure that the “air warriors” in the high-altitude cruise continuously for 36 hours. Can be seen, compared with the old R/F-5 plane, “Air Warriors” more competent UAV surveillance missions along the coast of Taiwan.

weapon can be converted to attack

Taiwan fancy “air warriors” is not just a simple reconnaissance UAV, just After a simple modification, responsible for the surveillance of the “air warriors” can be “transformed” into attacking the “Predator” unmanned aerial vehicles. Heavy equipment can not only anti-tank missiles, but also equipped with GBU-44/B-type guided bombs, and its combat equipment, Taiwan’s current OH-58 “Kiowa Warrior” reconnaissance/attack helicopters are no less than. Furthermore, Taiwan already equipped with a large number of “Hellfire” heavy anti-tank missiles, do not even have to buy U.S. missiles, we can “air warriors” to provide sufficient ammunition to protect.

Taiwan military equipment, “Air Warrior” UAV, the hand can be real-time monitoring of coastal areas, it can also equip its missiles, as the vanguard fire on landing craft, amphibious tanks and missile precision strike, to prevent other forces near the coastal areas of Taiwan, the implementation of land. In addition, Taiwan’s military has been built in the South China Sea, the Pacific island runway, “Air Warriors” can also be this large area of ??sea-based monitoring.

balance large armed advantage

gradually fitted out with the PLA polymorphism advanced aircraft, tanks and amphibious ships, Taiwan has completely lost the sea air superiority. The U.S. arms sales to Taiwan does not include the long-awaited F-16 aircraft and conventional submarines, the ability to attack Taiwan in the short term would not have improved significantly, so more emphasis on Taiwan’s so-called “non- symmetry military “in the hope that stealth missile boats, unmanned aerial vehicles and other equipment, check the PLA air and sea superiority mainland.

According to Taiwan media, Taiwan’s military held on January 19, “defense intellectual journey” media visits, inviting the media to “Bureau of Zhongshan Institute of arms” about the hospital many years of R & D results , a rare event showcases the latest weapons research and development results, including its self-developed mini-UAV. However, the strength of the current research in Taiwan, can not develop in the short term with the “air warriors” the same level UAV, it is likely turned to the United States, battle-tested direct purchase of advanced unmanned aerial vehicles. Trends in military procurement in Taiwan, the mainland should maintain a high degree of concern, the United States and the Taiwan authorities must prevent future UAV procurement included in the procurement list.

links: People’s Liberation Army UAV good fight

Although Taiwan may be purchased through their own research or to obtain a certain number of unmanned reconnaissance aircraft or is no fighter, but does not fundamentally turn the tide. Currently, the PLA Naval Air Force and Air Force have been equipped with the J-10 batch, J-11 advanced fighter planes, and early warning aircraft and electronic warfare aircraft support, if necessary, you can completely win air supremacy over the Taiwan Strait.

In addition, the PLA is also equipped with a large number of portable air defense missiles, can be said that even the most ordinary soldiers fighting UAVs are equipped with a means of carrying out some military live-fire training is used when no drones, UAVs can be said that the experience of playing is extremely rich. In this case, the slow speed of the UAV can become the PLA fighters and live targets portable missiles.