US to sell Taiwan 66 fighter planes to counter China arms build-up - report

Forbes ^ | July 17, 2006 | AFX News Limited (no author divulged)

[Bald Eagle777]

"The United States has agreed to sell Taiwan 66 advanced fighter jets to counter China's continued arms build-up..."

[Bald Eagle777]

Good.

[Brilliant]

If I were the Taiwanese, I would be looking at a nuclear missile threat instead of this.

[Integrityrocks]

Ya, well... good - depending on which way you look at it. Not that we are freinds with China, but this certainly cements that.

[The Lion Roars]

Will these come equipped with AESA and the latest AMRAAM?? The Taiwanese need AEGIS to hold off the Chicoms

[GSlob]

Well, some years ago there were reports on them in nuclear cooperation with the Israelis. So what they need is advanced rocketry in 2500-4000km range.

[Brilliant]

There was a post a couple of weeks ago that they were getting ready to test a missile, but the US asked them to call it off because of the tension in North Korea.

[samadams2000]

While youre at it, build 200 more for us just for laughs and giggles.

[Spirited]

About time.

[NY Attitude]

The compatibility with the indigenous fighter will probably reduce their logistics cost.

[MediaMole]

F-16C/D models.

Too bad they can't get 66 F-15E Strike Eagles.

[COEXERJ145]

Taiwan wants to buy Aegis equipped ships but the U.S. has been hesitant for a couple of reasons to sell them. One is of course ticking off the Chicoms. The other is if by some strange chance Taiwan did rejoin the mainland, then the PRC would suddenly have access to our most advanced warships.

Right now there are some decommissioned Ticonderoga class CG's that could be quickly refitted for service with Taiwan.

[BradtotheBone]

Too bad we just couldn't give them some nukes. Then lets see the Chinese invade.

[NY Attitude]

or even Block 60 aircraft.

[Republican Party Reptile]

Not on the Block 52 described in the article, AESA only on Block 60's.

[bannie]

Communist China's arms build up = purchases of our most vital military defense secrets in a transaction between billyblythe clinton and the ChiComs.

The bastard sold the future of our children, and he's still not in prison or on the end of a rope.

[sukhoi-30mki]

They already operate close to 140 F-16s.These new planes can't be integrated faster & at lower costs.With newer radars & conformal fuel tanks,the new Blk 52s offer a lot of what the Strike Eagle does,at lower costs.

[sukhoi-30mki]

The Blk-60 is not too different from the Blk-52s,barring it's APG-80 radar.And the APG-80 on the UAE's F-16s are not exactly the best AESA systems in the world.The new SuperHornets & F/A-22s have far better systems.European & Israeli companies are coming up with new systems which could be integrated with the F-16.

[Republican Party Reptile]

Actually, the Taiwanese themselves decided not to ask for F-15's (there were quite a bit of debate within TW's military on what to get). It's mostly logistics - parts, service, spares, training, as well as software and weapons integration. TW approx. 400 front line fighters are already spread across three different aircraft types(U.S. F-16 A/B Block 20 with MLU, French Mirage 2000-5E, and TW's own AIDC IDF) with not always compatible service parts, weapons, and datalink software - adding a forth type to the mix would have created serious logistics headache.

[Jimnorwellwarren]

Precisely; Taiwan ought to research, develop, test and then announce that they have nuclear weapons. See if the Reds want to lose Shanghai and Peking in exchange for Taipei.

[gaijin]

Perhaps the Taiwanese will now have a prayer of downing some of those many PRC fighters that Israel so lavishly improved.