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

Data Figure: Taiwan RF-104 plus range reconnaissance

Building

Recently, the Japanese government announced the adjustment of the western border of Yonaguni’s “air defense identification zone” (ADZ), the original plan due to U.S. be attributed to the Taiwan authorities and the control of the western half of ADZ Yonaguni change the name to himself. The move for Japan, there is Taiwan’s “Legislative Yuan” warning, once succeed in Japan, Taiwan, the Diaoyu Islands on a recognition of “sovereignty” is the Japanese side. In fact, Taiwan’s military also Wohuo heart to know the past several times, the Taiwan Air Force’s use of Yonaguni ADZ interests to contain the expansion of Japan’s actions in the direction of Diaoyu Islands.

“before security” secret plan

mainland since the 1960s, many aircraft missile shot down U-2 high altitude reconnaissance aircraft Taiwan, the Taiwan authorities was suspended on the mainland of intrusion detection. However, this restraint did not last long, after the 1980s, Taiwan has implemented a code-named “the beginning of an ‘secret plan to resume aerial reconnaissance of the continent. Interestingly, “before security” plan was also developed, and even the Taiwan Air Force, the Japanese also looked a lot of secrets.

1984, the Taiwan Air Force from the U.S. company bought Litton two PC-201 type scanning oblique long focal length cameras, installed in the 12th combat team of independent two F-104 fighter aircraft. PC-201 camera with the camera on the U.S. spy satellite belonging to the same level, but because of their size large, for the modified F-104 fighters had to put a longer version of specially designed nose fairing, which was born out of unique in the world RF-104 “before security” surveillance aircraft. In fact, been modified F-104 aircraft, far more than two, but 12. 12 combat missions for each team will select the best state of the four aircraft, two of which are prepared to machine, machine break down if the first two tasks, the camera immediately to prepare machine disassembly. For security reasons, the first combat team allows only 12, “before security machine,” stand-alone turn off, into the air and then formation.

as PC-201 camera is very sophisticated, with polonium-plated film, the island of Taiwan, the hot and humid environment is easy to mold, so the first 12 combat teams usually are the same as the Buddha for the PC-201 camera and negatives, put them on a special temperature control room airconditioning. But even so careful wait, is still the problem continued. For a while, two PC-201 camera, a lens mold, an internal fault, are sent to the United States for repair. 12 combat team had to take old-fashioned KS-125 low altitude scan camera duty.

start Diaoyu Islands reconnaissance operations

1990 end of September in Japan, “Sankei Shimbun” revealed that the Japanese right-wing group “Japan Youth Association” on the Diaoyu Islands lighthouse built by the Japanese government officially recognized as a route identification. This exposes the Diaoyu Islands, the Japanese government to control the “legalization” of the attempt, causing serious concern the mainland and Taiwan. Lee Teng-hui’s attitude was “not involved”, the Taiwan military by the Japanese Coast Guard vessels sit Diaoyu Islands to intercept ships collide, the result has been criticized. To quell public discontent, the Air Force secret in October and November that year sent several batches “before security machine” to the reconnaissance in order to understand the Japanese to engage in action on the Diaoyu Islands.

“before security machine,” the surveillance operation, “Defense Ministry” by the Air Force “Combat Command” was issued by the wing next to the 12th combat team. In principle, look up the command, reconnaissance the next day will be action, although the task about little more than an hour, but due to PC-201 camera is difficult to wait, and ground mechanics to the “before security machine,” the placement of a special head fairing, this process would have spent at least two hours. Fairing installed, followed by a series of electricity, through pressure testing.

According to relevant memories, the Diaoyu Islands in the Yonaguni island 150 kilometers north-east side, only about 186 kilometers from Keelung Harbor, “before security machine,” just 10 minutes away by detecting the location, but the waters of the Diaoyu Islands weather is changeable, “before security machine,” the pilot will be more prepared several routes and surveillance zone, to avoid Baipaoyitang. As the United States in the 1950s, planning of the West Pacific “first island chain” of allies ADZ, inadvertently “take care” a bit of Taiwan, the U.S. military took the sovereignty of Okinawa Yonaguni 2/3 of the airspace assigned to the Taiwan Air Force ADZ, to extend the eastern part of Taiwan’s air defense warning time, and now, the Japanese trouble on the Diaoyu Islands, Taiwan’s air force can just use the Yonaguni of ADZ.

Japanese planes attack blocking

1990 October day, the Air Force two “before security machine” by the Taoyuan bases, the goal is to spy on Diaoyu Islands and its surrounding waters. At the same time, there are two F-104 fighters taking off from Hsinchu base cover. The first four aircraft to climb to 40,000 feet altitude of the stratosphere for some time, and then transferred to “north east” direction, to the sea after flying north, while maintaining the speed of Mach 1.4, to prevent the Japanese aircraft to intercept. “Before security machine” to the sea after flying north along longitude 123 degrees, turn left immediately after returning reconnaissance. Period, “before security machine,” from the Diaoyu Islands, the nearest only 15 nautical miles, pilots can see with the naked eye of a few components of the Diaoyu Islands. When the “before security machine,” when engaged in surveillance photos, two F-104 则 intentionally or unintentionally, close to Yonaguni airspace, radar surveillance network attempts to disrupt Japan’s attention. Yang Lai Tiangong for the United States, the surveillance so that “before security machine” photo shoot, the “Japanese Youth Association” built the lighthouse on the Diaoyu Islands and the island abandoned cannery where the cranes are legible.

soon, the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force radar station in Okinawa discovered these “uninvited guest”, so the number of aircraft F-4EJ fighters quickly took off from Kadena Air Base to intercept. Taiwan’s military operations control radar until the F-4EJ fleet climb to 10,000 feet above only to find, until the call “before security machine,” attention, both sides had suffered.

urgency of the situation, but because both fighters are not using the same radio frequency, so everyone know each other’s conversations. Taiwan’s military radar station heard from the radio, “before security machine,” the pilot is to ask each other whether rapid visual tone to the Japanese planes, the results we have not found, leaving Taiwan’s military commanders stress that, “before security machine “was not any to give up the task of receiving the order.

PC-201 camera is large and sophisticated, “before security machine,” flying is not too much, “before security machine,” Overload during large turn, you must first running back in the camera lens, displayed on the dashboard until the green light lens, the pilot in order to implement the next action, otherwise the aircraft turns the enormous centrifugal force will cause $ 250 billion New Taiwan dollars of damage to parts inside the camera. But this lens recycling process takes 15 seconds, the air war may break out in tense moments, this is a long one. Fortunately, both aircraft at different heights, so are not visual to the other side, after a flurry of mutual apart.

suffered electrical interference

in the “before security machine” behind several reconnaissance operations in the Diaoyu Islands, Japan Self-Defense Force repeatedly deployed electronic warfare aircraft, attempted interference. On one occasion, “before security machine,” and escort the F-104 aircraft with that country in the first island east empty feint shot, and then rapidly northward close to the Diaoyu Islands. Japanese aircraft accurately determine the fate of Taiwan, the results “before security machine,” in about 30 nautical miles from the Diaoyu Islands, Japan Air Self-Defense Force found that an EC-130 electronic warfare aircraft, as well as Japan Coast Guard ships on the sea cruising.

when “before security machine,” and further to 20 nautical miles from the Diaoyu Islands, its radio communications began to be disturbed, the pilot could hear the Taoyuan-based call, it has not been the pilot’s base voice, apparently Japan’s electronic warfare aircraft at work. More outrageous is that the Japanese also used a frequency of 242 MHz emergency channel call “before security machine,” with the accent of the Japanese language warnings Taiwan pilots: “You have violated Japanese airspace, to leave as soon as possible.” But Taiwan pilot has chosen to continue to stay after the completion of surveillance is not quickly return to base in Taoyuan, but the first east coast of the island of Taiwan to Hualien, Taoyuan and then back to base. Way, this “before security machine,” Su-ao in the fly off, because of good weather, simply give a lift to go again with that empty island country, the situation there Kuangpai a pass, and then washed out of the picture even on the island of Japan Maritime Security Hall runway letters are legible.

Unfortunately, the Air Force reconnaissance operations can not continue the Diaoyu Islands, Lee Teng-hui has repeatedly calling for restraint, after 1991, the Taiwan military aircraft, ships will no longer close to the Diaoyu Islands.

(“Global Times,” June 1, 2010 No. 08 version)

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