Taiwan to upgrade F-16, Mirage while waiting for 3rd-generation jets

Posted on: Apr. 14th, 2006 || Source: news.monstersandcritics.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

Taipei - Taiwan plans to upgrade its F-16 and Mirage warplanes while waiting to introduce its third-generation fighter jets, a newspaper said on Thursday.

The China Times, quoting an unnamed air force source, said that Taiwan still hopes to buy JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) jets from the US, although it may take Taiwan many years to get Washington to approve the purchase.

'The US has rejected Taiwan's request to participate in the four-stage development of JSF. So after JSF is launched and if the US approves the sale, Lockheed-Martin will not sell JSF until it has delivered the jets to the US and Japanese air forces. That means Taiwan won't be able to get JSF until after 2020,' the daily said.

Taiwan has ruled out seeking to buy F-15s as its third-generation jets, the paper said. For the period between now and the introduction of its third-generation jets, Taiwan will rely on F-16s and Mirage 2000-5s.

The Taiwan Air Force ordered 150 F-16 C/Ds and 60 Mirage 2000-5s in 1992 to form its second-generation fleet which also includes 130 self-developed Indigenous Defence Fighter (IDF) jets.

Under the current plan, the China Times said, the Taiwan Air Force will stop using IDFs as fighter jets and will use them as trainers, and will seek to upgrade F-16s and Mirages.

Meanwile, Taiwan is also willing to sell its second-hand F-5 warplanes to Southeast Asian nations, the paper said.

The US sold Taiwan 48 F-5s in 1978 and Northrop licensed Taiwan to assembly some 250 F-5s afterwards to boost Taiwan's defences against China.

The Taiwan Air Force discharged the F-5s along with F-104s after Taiwan acquired US F-16s and French Mirage 2000-5s.

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