Posted on 04/12/2011 8:14:22 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Fighter jets carry out drill on freeway
‘CHINESE ATTACK’:The drill was based on a scenario in which airbases had been destroyed, forcing the air force to use alternative locations for landing and takeoff
By Rich Chang / Staff Reporter, with AFP
The Republic of China Air Force yesterday used a closed-off motorway as a runway in a rare drill simulating a surprise attack from China that had wiped out its major airbases.
In all, six fighter aircraft landed and took off from Freeway No. 1 in an emergency landing and takeoff exercise, under the watchful eye of hundreds of spectators.
The one-hour drill anticipated a scenario in which runways at airbases in Greater Kaohsiung’s Gangshan Township (岡山), Penghu’s Magong (馬公), Pingtung and Greater Tainan were destroyed by three waves of missile attacks by China, forcing the air force to use alternative locations for landing and takeoff, the Ministry of National Defense said.
“In today’s scenario, we assumed most of Taiwan’s military air bases were severely damaged in an attack by missiles from the People’s Liberation Army, and fighter jets could not return to their home bases,” an air force spokesman told reporters.
“Because of that we needed to convert some sections of the freeway to serve as emergency runways ... and for that purpose, we need to check the standard procedures, like clearing up the road surface, setting up communications networks and installing plane arrest cables,” he said.
In the exercise, which began at 7:26am in heavy fog, two Indigenous Defense Fighters (IDF), two F-16A/Bs and two Mirage 2000s landed on a 2.7km stretch of Freeway No. 1 in the Madou area of Greater Tainan.
(Excerpt) Read more at taipeitimes.com ...
Plane spotters watch an F-16 fighter touch down on Freeway No. 1 in the Madou area of Greater Tainan yesterday. A 2.7km stretch of the freeway was temporarily closed off for the exercise.Apr 13, 2011
Photo: Huang Chih-yuan, Taipei Times
An armed French made Mirage 2000-5s fighter takes off from a highway in Tainan, southern Taiwan, during the Han Kuang drill on April 12, 2011.Apr 13, 2011
Photo: AFP
Slower traffic keep to side.
Kewl. I can see us doing this on the perimeter
about 5:45 friday.
Boy, I’ll bet it was loud but notbody seems to be covering their ears, yet.
I’ve been farther that that from them when they rotate with the burners on, it’ll get your attention.
Marker
I know I'm listening to an Atlantan when I hear that word. It's not the "loop" or "circle" or "outer freeway" -- it's the Perimeter, dadgummit!
The hot jet exhaust can’t be good for the asphalt.
Haha. yep.
Oooorah!
t.
Interesting story. Hope the Nationalists get a license to produce Harrier jump-jets. They are the perfect attack craft that can use roads, fields, and maybe roof-tops to take off and land from in restrictive combat environments.
However, as far back as 1971 when I was studying in Taipei, we were told that Roosevelt Blvd, the main drag thru the city, was built specifically to function as a large jet-liner landing strip should the main airport be taken out by the Reds. Also for emergency landings.
These people were way ahead of American military planners. They were aware of the direct threat to their existence. I hope our leaders learn something from this latest event, but I doubt it.
Roads for fighter runways has been part of Swedish CONOPS for decades, I think.
China isn’t going to forget to hit these emergency runways if a war kicks off...
The Harrier would be akin to a sitting duck against China’s fleet of SU-27/30s and J-10s. About Taiwanese foresight, they have done absolutely nothing about improving their submarine fleet (grand total of two combat capable ships) and didn’t show any interest in US upgrade offers for F-16s earlier in the past decade. It’s pretty much too late for them on many fronts if war were to break out.
The Swiss do this regularly.
Part of Eisenhower’s idea of the interstate system was this very reason. Apparently it required one mile of every 5 to be completely straight and without obstruction in order for planes to land on it. This is what I read somewhere. HAve not confirmed it.
The Harrier would make a hard-to-hit portable platform for nuclear-armed cruise missiles that could be fired from Taiwan, Quemoy, etc before being found out. There are a lot of military caves on Taiwan and Quemoy is honeycombed too (Been there).
It would only take about 30 seconds for a Harrier to jump up and fire.
Re subs: Read somewhere that Taiwan has been buying fast attack subs, possibly from Germany. Again, only takes seconds to fire even if pinpointed by the enemy.
There has been some kind of hitch in the F16 program. An article appeared here at FR about this within the last month.
However, they are in the process of upgrading their anti-aircraft systems. They know it is a doomsday scenario in there is an all-out Red Chinese attack so the plan is to fire off as many nuclear missiles as possible, knowing that even if only a dozen or so get thru, Peking, Shanghai, etc. are toast.
I believe there's a requirement that US interstates have straight sections every so many miles so they can be used for runways.
Taiwan has nukes?
I have heard the one mile in five story several times, but I have never seen confirmation either. It does make sense since Eisenhower was no doubt familiar with the Germans using the Autobahns as runways in the final months of the WWII. If I think about it, I can come up with several stretches of interstate that I drive regularly that fit that description, especially in the flatter sections of Lower Alabama.
For one there is little or any indication that Taiwan has nuclear missiles; whatever they had was killed in the 80s. And the Harrier doesn’t have the payload capacity to carry a heavy cruise missile similar to the European Storm Shadow. You also need range on your fighters and cruise missiles if you want to hit major Chinese cities.
About submarines, nope the Europeans won’t sell them and the anti-aircraft upgrade is still not comprehensive; nothing beyond the Patriot. Both the F-16 and submarine programmes have been hanging fire for more than a decade.
I remember seeing them in the ROK in the early 70's. Some had hardened hangers cut into hills.
>>> “Because of that we needed to convert some sections of the freeway to serve as emergency runways ... and for that purpose, we need to check the standard procedures, like clearing up the road surface, setting up communications networks and installing plane arrest cables,” he said.
<<<
Arrest cables?
When did the F-16 get a tail hook?
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