Military Affairs

F-16 slips off runway on landing at Pingtung Air Base

F-16 nose down off runway Pingtung Air Base
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

An air force F-16 fighter aircraft left the runway, and ended up nose-down at Pingtung Air Base this morning, according to reports today, Tuesday, August 31. Pilots were rehearsing for the upcoming Han Kuang military exercises when the fighter jet overran the runway after landing at around 6:30 am. Witnesses reported seeing several firetrucks and ambulances rush to the scene of the incident. The Ministry of National Defense said that the pilot is uninjured but has been sent to hospital

Read more

US Navy, Coast Guard cross-transit Taiwan Strait

US navy and coast guard vessels pass each other in the Taiwan Strait
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A US Navy warship, and a US Coast Guard vessel transited the Taiwan Strait simultaneously, but in opposite directions yesterday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed today, August 28. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) and legend-class U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter Munro (WMSL 755) conducted routine Taiwan Strait transits Aug. 27 (local time) through international waters in accordance with international law, US Naval Institute reported. The US Navy ship’s transit marked the eighth passage by

Read more

F-16 makes emergency landing after canopy flies off: suspected human error

F-16V involved in cockpit canopy incident
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A pilot was forced to make an emergency landing yesterday after the cockpit canopy flew of an air force F-16V, and an investigation into the incident is moving in the direction of human negligence, according to a senior air force official. The F-16 was one of four fighters to take off from Chiayi Air Force Base on a routine training mission at 7:29 am yesterday, August 11. However, shortly after the aircraft’s wheels left the tarmac, the cockpit canopy suddenly

Read more

China sends record 28 military flights into Taiwan ADIZ in one day: a response to G7 summit statement?

Chinese J-11 fighter jet.
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

The People’s Republic of China made 28 military aircraft incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) today, June 15, a record number that follows an ‘unprecedented’ communique from the Group of Seven that highlighted the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait just two days ago. The G7 communique issued June 13 reiterated the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo Pacific, and mentioning Taiwan for the first time in the group’s history, stated “We underscore

Read more

Mirage fighter slips off runway after aborting takeoff

Mirage 2000 Taiwan ROC Air Force
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A Mirage 2000 fighter jet left the runway after the pilot aborted takeoff due to a malfunction warning light at Taichung Ching Chuan Kang Air Base this afternoon, and both pilot and aircraft are reported safe. Air Force Command confirmed by press release earlier this evening that a Mirage 2000-5 single-seater fighter performing a routine combat training mission was scheduled to take off at 2:00 pm, but when accelerating on the runway, a malfunction warning light suddenly lit up. The

Read more

Body of fighter pilot found 27 days after crash

body of missing pilot found on rocks in intertidal zone
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

The remains of a pilot who was missing for 27 days after the collision and crash of two air force F-5E fighter jets were found just 100 meters from Nanren Fishing Port in Pingtung County this morning, April 18. Captain Pan Ying-chun (潘穎諄) was one of two pilots who ejected after the two planes collided during a change in formation off the coast of Pingtung County, March 22. See previous story: One fighter pilot dead, one missing after mid-air collision

Read more

New warship a milestone in domestic naval shipbuilding: named after Taiwan’s tallest mountain

President Tsai Ing-wen and officials at ship launch ceremony
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

President Tsai Ing-wen presided over the naming ceremony and launch of the navy’s first amphibious dock transport ship today, saying that the ship marks a milestone in domestic naval shipbuilding. The “Yushan,” named after Taiwan’s tallest mountain, Mt Jade, symbolizes the spirit of the national military who are not afraid of challenges, the president said. Built by Taiwan International Shipbuilding (CSBC Corporation TWSE: 2208 ), the 10,600-tonne No.1401, ROCN Yushan is designed to meet operational requirements for amphibious assault, and personnel

Read more

An intense day of Chinese-US military maneuvers around Taiwan

USS Theodore exercises in the South China Sea
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

US and Chinese military activity around Taiwan intensified April 7, with a US aircraft carrier group exercising in the South China Sea, a Chinese aircraft carrier group operating in waters east of Taiwan, a US destroyer transiting the Taiwan Strait, and Taiwan fighters scrambled against 15 Chinese aircraft entering Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning, accompanied by a type 055 destroyer, two type 052 destroyers, a type 054 frigate, and a supply ship sailed though

Read more

One fighter pilot dead, one missing after mid-air collision over ocean

location of missing pilots, search area
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment ,

One pilot has been declared dead after being airlifted from the sea, and one is still missing after two F-5E fighters collided while flying off the coast of Pingtung County this afternoon, March 22. According to the Ministry of National Defense (MND), four F-5E fighters of the 7th Flight Training Wing took off from Taitung Airbase at 2:30 pm on a routine training mission. At 3:06 pm two of the jets disappeared from radar screens around 2.6 kilometers from the

Read more

Special Ops forces practice urban warfare drills on 505 kilometer long march

troops in urban combat operations
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Army Special Operations Command is currently conducting urban tactical exercises in northern Taiwan as part of a 21-day, 505-kilometer tactical mission march training that began on March 9. Special warfare officers and troops in full combat gear, and armed with T91 rifles and machine guns were seen around Tamsui Zhuwei MRT station, and along the Tamsui Riverside bike way this morning, March 13. ROC Army Aviation and Special Forces Command said that this is part of an annual routine tactical

Read more

Australian air force plane spotted operating over East China Sea

Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon
Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft was operating in airspace over the East China Sea today, according to a Chinese think tank that monitors aircraft movements in the area. China’s semi-official South China Sea Probing Initiative (SCSPI) posted a map of the aircraft’s flight trajectory on Twitter today, observing that is was “unusual to see an Australian P-8A operating over the East China Sea.” The Australian Department of Defense (DoD) announced the aircraft’s deployment in the

Read more