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

Data Figure: U.S. AH-64D Longbow Apache attack helicopter

U.S. black-box machine sales contract, but the new equipment in Taiwan may be “acclimatized”

reporter/Wu Minjie

Obama administration announced in September this year to help upgrade Taiwan’s F-16 fighter, the U.S. arms sales to Taiwan does not seem to stop. According to the French “space defense” Web site recently reported that the U.S. military, Boeing has moved from Taiwan to get a hand worth $ 141.3 million of AH-64D “Longbow” Block III helicopter technical services contract. If this is true, indicating the United States and Taiwan have been quietly promoting the “Apache” helicopters implementation of the project.

first aircraft delivery has been put into production

In fact, as early as June of this year, the United Kingdom, “Flight International” website had quoted U.S. Army “Apache odd “armed helicopter project manager Openshaw as saying, according to the United States and Taiwan reached 30″ Longbow “supply contract, the first delivery of the first frame should be put into operation in October this year. Block III is the “Apache” helicopters, the latest improved, the U.S. military plans to put into force next year starting in the spring trial, and Taiwan from 2014 to the partial delivery.

According to the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency confirmed that, as early as 2002, Taiwan has passed the American Institute in Taiwan, make purchases 30 “Apache Longbow” helicopters needs, intended to replace the 1993 Army service in Taiwan in US-made AH-1Z “Cobra” helicopter gunships.

After years of efforts, the United States in October 2008 approved the sale of 30 “Apache” Block III and related equipment, “Hellfire” anti-tank missiles and “Stinger” air to air missiles to Taiwan. However, Boeing is rumored in China for fear of sanctions, has delayed the supply contract signed with Taiwan. Affected, sent to the United States Army Air Corps training station was forced after the extension of time.

2010 in May, by the U.S. government officials and representatives of the Boeing delegation to visit Taiwan, and on the “Apache” sales to final confirmation. Was determined in accordance with the timetable, the first Block III should be delivered in early 2012 to 2013 in Taiwan. Now, the time delay to first deliveries in 2014. According to the analysis, which may be related to Block III type trials in the United States and the slowdown in the production process.

want to deal with landing PLA

signed a technical service contract marks the U.S. will start training in Taiwan, “Apache” with the maintenance engineers and maintenance . According to reports, the contract work will be completed by December 2017. This means that, while the partial completion of delivery, “Apache,” units with maintenance tasks will be completed Army Aviation crew themselves.

According to Taiwan’s military sources, the reason why nearly 10 years in Taiwan on the “Longbow” assiduous, the PLA in recent years because of mainland assault, landing capabilities continue to improve, Taiwan wants to use this new types of armed helicopters to enhance the Army Aviation and the sea on combat capability.

“Longbow” a “tank killer,” said, allegedly it is equipped with “Longbow” millimeter-wave radar from harsh weather conditions affecting, 360 ° scan range of air 270 ° range of targets and ground targets. As long as the “Longbow” radar search range, it can guide the missile hit its target. In addition, the “Longbow” radar, high intelligence, able to distinguish between the importance of different objectives, the implementation of a targeted attack.

with excellent anti-armor capability, “Longbow Apache” implement the U.S. military has become a major ground attack weapons. However, it is not perfect. Experts generally believe that kind, is more suitable in the vast plains and open area for anti-tank operations, Taiwan’s mountainous terrain and the relatively humid climates, it may be “acclimatized.”