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

Data for: U.S. Air Force F-16C squadrons

concerns trends in Asia independent news analysis website “Sentinel Asia” on April 6 reported that Taipei has been purchased from the Obama administration hopes to The new F-16C/D fighter aircraft, but Washington has said very reluctantly. Obama intends to avoid the alleged approval of more than $ 5.5 billion sales contract with Beijing so as not to become enemies.

may change Taiwan’s “midlife crisis” the only way to upgrade existing F-16A/B fleet components. However, according to recent media reports that Taiwan’s recent Air Force will not rectification. If the report was reliable, Taiwan, in all likelihood will not be before December, more advanced F-16C/D fighter aircraft.

if U.S. allies in the region began to doubt the safety of the United States has made a commitment, then the resulting response can not be ignored. No new updates fighters and military, within a decade Taiwan’s air force can not compete with the mainland. Washington is determined to maintain a certain self-defense capability of Taiwan is of great significance, some even say that the best period in the cross-strait relations, this approach has great strategic significance.

President of the United States and Taiwan, Rupert Chamber of Commerce – Hammond – Chambers said: “In the next few years, China Taiwan and the mainland’s fast growing competitive pressure, not only in economic terms, also in the political and military, if the lack of reliable defense capability of Taiwan, the mainland would think that the U.S. lack of resolve, sharp increase in the likelihood of miscarriage of justice, and cross-strait relations will be extremely tight, although the sale of arms to Taiwan, in the short term bilateral relations with China become hostile, but always return to a solid base if the U.S. caved in to short-term interests, not to provide Taiwan with necessary weapons and targeted, the mainland’s adventurism will rise. “

two U.S. Naval War College Professor Yoshihara Jun wells (Toshi Yoshihara) and James – Holmes (James R. Holmes) in his book “Red Star Over the Pacific: the rise of China and the challenges facing the U.S. Navy.” wrote: “Over the years, the U.S. strategists stressed that Taiwan’s air superiority is a violation of the United States mainland and the checks and balances to curb the ultimate trump card. This is because, if there is no air cover, water fleet and amphibious forces, the PLA will be susceptible to air strikes, create any conflict over Taiwan is undoubtedly self-defeating. ” For the PLA, the air superiority is so important, especially in all military activities against the early stages of Taiwan. The rules are simple: If within 10 to 15 years, Taiwan’s combat abandoned, the PLA will win the confidence of the Taiwan Strait transport a large number of ground forces.

according to the conservative “Washington Times” reported that outgoing Secretary of State James – Steinberg (said he was a pro-Chinese diplomat) to force the White House to reconsider this times $ 4.5 billion worth of arms sales to Taiwan, which provides upgrade 146 F-16A/B fighters, the components required for the performance. He warned that Beijing may be immediately interrupted and the United States military relations, as in early 2010, Beijing for another large-scale arms sales to Taiwan when the same reaction.

According to “Defense News” reports that, in addition to Steinberg’s factors, there is another help desk against the implementation of F-16A/B fighter aircraft upgrade program performance sound. This authoritative journal in the United States government, whether in accordance with plans to active phased array radar AESA delivered to Taiwan in a fierce debate. Because they worried that the ships and aircraft can launch a powerful radar-jamming signals security technology, along with cross-strait unification will be the mainland in one fell swoop.

in response to the above reports, the U.S. State Department denied the delay to provide F-16 fighter jets to upgrade components of the argument. Taiwan, “Foreign Minister” is also claimed that Taiwan’s government to postpone sales reports and knowledge. At the same time, Taiwan’s “premier” Wu Den-yih in Taiwan in a speech to the Foreign Correspondents Club, said: “No matter whether to provide F-16C/D arms, F-16A/B performance upgrade are a virtual certainty.”

these American-made fighter jets in 1997 to 2001 deliveries in Taiwan, although the technical performance upgrades for their reports there are many variations, but one thing is certain; that with the advanced technology compared to the PLA Air Force , F-16A/B fighters need better electronic warfare equipment, as well as monitoring a wider range of radar. “Defense News” reports that, in addition to exchange radar, installed on the aircraft, “Sidewinder” (AIM-9X) air to air missiles, install new internal electronics of the anti-jamming transmitters and advanced targeting pod outside the airborne avionics computing power and weapons systems are likely to upgrade. These can improve the situational awareness, air to air capability, target accuracy, and pilot data obtained.

The magazine further predicted a new type of multi-color display and the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System attached. This technology allows the pilot targeting the “Sidewinder,” the self-guided head, they can only rely on the eye seems to be “locked” target, so that both hands freed from the combat operation. Meanwhile, the new engine is also foreseeable.

Chinese writings, and even made a further look. Hong Kong and mainland China can adapt to a variety of writers referred to the GPS weather cruise missile, which will fully enhance Taiwan’s ground attack. They pointed out that Taiwan is likely to choose improved fire control system of the “Sidewinder” missiles, warships and ground attack to it on the armored vehicles. If Washington does delay sales, it shows that China-US relations so that’s controversial F-16C/D fighter aircraft transactions difficult to implement, it will make Taiwan the next decade there is no reliable air power.

“Defense News” Asia editor Wendell – Minnick (Wendell Minnick) in the “Sentinel Asia” in an interview stated the following schedule:

Minnick said: “After the upgrade, if maintained suitably, F-16A/B can continue to serve 15 to 20 years; but if you do not upgrade, they will only serve 10 to 15 years, mainly to see how much the budget. an F-16A/B upgraded with China’s fourth-generation fighters such as F-10 and Su-27 to compete, but certainly can not compete with the F -20. ” -20 F is just the beginning of this year, China’s successful test flight, the fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft the Air Force. In the next 10 years, Taiwan’s military factory can play that role without the other models. Where only non-horizon equipment old F-5 fighters. Minnick said: “Taiwan today for training and maritime reconnaissance aircraft can not compete with the fourth-generation fighters”

Mirage 2000 – has been plagued by low levels of combat readiness, will be sealed within the next few years . Finally, defensive fighter of the local service life has also been questioned. To make matters worse, the existing airborne weaponry is not in good condition. In a recent firing tests, from F-16A/B US-made air-launched “Sparrow” missile, fired from a Mirage-2000 multi-target warhead’s legal defense, and fired home from the IDF developed the “Sword” 2 type air to air missiles, none hit the target.

accept the “Sentinel Asia” interview strategy experts strongly opposed the so-called delayed F-16A/B upgrade and F-16C/D sales. “If the fire in mainland China and Taiwan: military strategy, political and economic” author Steve University of Nottingham – said: “The Obama administration to upgrade Taiwan’s active opposition F16A/B fleet, and refused to use the new F-16C/D replace aging fighter Taiwan’s decision is unwise and thoughtless. to cut Taiwan’s air force will result in the Taiwan Strait suffer an increased risk of air strikes, and this risk will continue to deepen. ”

Steve – has further pointed out that, in case of a new Taiwan Strait crisis, regardless of whether the United States today if the Government will be a series of major consequences; allies in the region will be shaken trust in the United States, United States national interests will be seriously undermined. He said that if Taiwan’s defense capabilities to reduce the United States itself in the fight against the mainland will pay a higher price. He said: “The U.S. Navy, the Air Force will have a much faster rate than expected to help strengthen Taiwan’s defense forces, to enable Taiwan to maintain a strong and effective air defense capability.”

in Steve – have to see come to be expected in such circumstances, Taiwan is the best way to have reliable air defense forces, which allows Beijing to renounce the use of force to resolve the Taiwan issue. He concluded: “No one wants war, and the modernization of Taiwan’s air defense capability to prevent war. Taiwan’s National Chengchi University Department of Chinese political researcher Arthur S. Ding (Arthur Ding), said:” The U.S. needs to consider leadership in the region. If you really, as has recently been abandoned, as proposed by Taiwan, the U.S. allies in the region will be building collapse. If so, the U.S. does not need to like Hillary – Clinton put it ‘back’ in Asia. “(Sri Lanka years)