Military Affairs

F-16 fighters back in the air after being grounded following crash

Taiwan ROC air force F-16V
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

A sortie of four two-seater F-16V fighter jets took off from Chiayi Airforce Base this morning, marking a return to the air for F-16 fleet after being grounded for inspection following a crash January 11. The squadron was led by Major General Wei Zhaolin, in a morale-boosting return to combat readiness, Air Force Command said. All F-16’s, including standard and upgraded F-16V (BLOCK 20), in both single and two-seat configurations are now returned to flight service, AFC said. In the

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Flight data recorder of crashed F-16 found

composite image of F16V and wreckage
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Taiwan’s Air Force Command announced this evening that the flight data recorder (black box) of an F-16V fighter that crashed into the sea on Taiwan’s west coast has been found. The single-seat fighter plane crashed into the sea close to the shore of the Aogu Wetlands in Dongshi Township, Chiayi County, during a training mission on Tuesday, January 11. A search and rescue mission turned into a salvage and recovery operation after it was confirmed that the 28-year-old pilot, Captain

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Two new rapid minelaying boats inaugurated at Zuoying Naval Base

Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

President Tsai Ing-wen presided over the inauguration ceremony for two new rapid minelaying boats at Zuoying Naval Base in Kaohsiung City today, December 14. The two boats will form the 1st and 2nd Mine Boat Squadrons of the 192nd Fleet (Minesweeper Fleet) of the ROC Navy. The navy spent NT$917.7 million to commission four of the vessels which were all delivered by Longteh Shipbuilding Company in 2021. President Tsai said that the shipbuilding program demonstrates Taiwan’s achievements in promoting the

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Air force F-16V fighter reported to have crashed at sea

Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

An ROC Air Force F-16V fighter aircraft crashed into the sea off the coast of Chiayi County, according reports this afternoon, Tuesday, January 11. The single-seat F-16V No.6650 was conducting air-to-ground bombing training when it crashed into the sear near Dongshi Township at 3:23 pm. Coast Guard vessels and two military helicopters were immediately dispatched to search for the 28-year-old pilot, Captain Chen Yi. Air Force Command stated in a press release this afternoon that the fighter jet No. 6650

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Regional defense news: US sub re-homed to West Pacific, missile launch site development near Taiwan

composite image of naval and defense activity in northwest Pacific and South China Sea
Military Affairs 
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In moves resembling a game of geostrategic chess, the US has forward-deployed a nuclear submarine to “the tip of the spear” in Guam, Japan’s development of a missile launch site on Ishigaki Island, near Taiwan, is advancing, China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier has sailed through the Miyaki Strait into the West Pacific, and a German naval vessel is in the South China Sea for the first time in 20 years. USS Jefferson City forward-deployed to new home base Guam The Los

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Navy takes delivery of two more rapid mine-laying ships, increasing asymmetric combat power

rapid mine-laying boat docking at Su'ao Harbor
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Taiwan’s ROC Navy officially took delivery of two rapid mine-laying ships at a ceremony yesterday, December 16, marking an upgrade in national defense research and development, and the improvement of naval mine-laying capability. The two vessels, FMLB-2 and FMLB-3 are the second and third of four rapid mine-laying ships to be built by domestic shipbuilder Lungteh Shipbuilding. The first of the tentatively-named “Minjiang” Class mine-laying ships was launched August 4, 2020. According to the Ministry of National Defense, the ships

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Paratrooper uninjured after entangling in ropes and landing on road

composite image showing paratroopers jumping and landing
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense today said that a paratrooper who landed bodily on a public road adjacent to a landing field after becoming entangled in his parachute cords, Monday, had not been injured in the incident. The official military statement said that the soldier was properly qualified, there was no problem with the standard operating procedures, and although landing on the asphalt road was “not ideal,” the soldier was not injured. Members of the public watching the aerial activities

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Chinese air force’s new aerial tanker seen flying in Taiwan ADIZ for first time

composite image of Y-20U and Taiwan ADIZ incursions
Military Affairs 
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A recently developed aircraft designed to extend the range China’s air combat forces was detected flying in airspace southwest of Taiwan today, November 28. The Y-20U aerial tanker was one of 27 aircraft to draw a response from Taiwan’s air defence forces by flying into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) today. Fifteen of the sorties continued through the Bashi Channel to into airspace over the Philippine Sea southeast of Taiwan. According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, among the

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Newest US Navy strategic guidance aims at deterring China from invading Taiwan

US Navy secretary Carlos Del Toro
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 3 Comments ,

US Navy secretary Carlos Del Toro provided a preview of his new strategic guidance earlier this week and revealed that one aim is to deter China from invading Taiwan, reported Defense News. Del Toro previewed the new strategic guidance during a lecture at the U.S. Naval Academy Tuesday night, October 5. “The desired goal, quite frankly, is not to fight China. No one wants to enter into a conflict. … It’s our ultimate responsibility to deter them from what they’re

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China’s gray war tactics seriously affect Taiwan’s security: MND report

map of Taiwan missile defenses
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

As of October 5, Chinese military planes had flown 600 sorties into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone since the beginning of the year, up from a total of 380 in 2020, the Ministry of National Defense told lawmakers in Taiwan’s parliamentary body, the Legislative Yuan, yesterday. The MND revealed the information in a report ahead of deliberations today, October 6, by the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee on a draft sea and air combat power enhancement special

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China intensifies gray-zone warfare with record-breaking 39 flights into Taiwan defence zone in single day

PLA H-6 bomber shadowed by ROC Airforce F-16
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 3 Comments , , ,

China sent 39 military aircraft into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone Saturday, October 2, one more than the previous record set just one day earlier. Ministry of National Defense officials said Saturday evening that the PLA Air Force had flown 20 sorties, including 14 J-16 fighters, 4 Sukai-30 fighters, and 2 Yun-8 anti-submarine aircraft into the southwest section of Taiwan’s ADIZ during the day. At midnight, the MND announced that a further 19 sorties had been flown after nightfall, including

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