Posted on 06/02/2010 2:50:30 AM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Taiwan hopes to maintain air operations in the event of a military conflict with China by using vertical and short take-off and landing aircraft.
VSTOL fighters would allow Taiwan to maintain fighter operations should Chinese missiles damage the island's military runways, says US-based think-tank the Project 2049 Institute in a report entitled Evolving Aerospace Trends in the Asia Pacific Region.
Former US deputy assistant secretary of state Randall Schriver heads the institute. While at the State Department, Schriver was responsible for issues relating to China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
The report quotes former Taiwanese air force commander Liu Guili as saying: "The air force is open to any kind of VSTOL fighters, and is not necessarily aiming for the US [Lockheed Martin F-35] Joint Strike Fighter that is in development."
Taiwan's initial requests for participation in the international JSF programme were rebuffed, adds the institute.
Taiwan has also built underground storage hangars for its fighters.
"The underground aircraft storage facilities adjacent to Hualian airbase and near Taidong are able to house more than half of the Republic of China air force's total fleet," the report says.
Taiwan has also been conducting exercises to improve its "rapid runway repair" capabilities, it adds.
(Excerpt) Read more at flightglobal.com ...
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