Posted on 07/12/2013 4:42:15 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Taiwan Makes Pitch for Purchase of F-35 Fighter Jets
WASHINGTON --- A delegation from the Taiwan-US Inter-Parliamentary Amity Association of Taiwan's Legislature said Wednesday in Washington that Taiwan wants to purchase advanced F-35 fighter jets that best suit its defense needs.
Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator and Association Chairman Lin Yu-fang briefed reporters in Washington after the delegation's meeting at the Pentagon with David Helvey, deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia, to discuss Taiwan's needs for advanced defense weaponry.
The delegation members, in their capacity as the Republic of China (ROC) lawmakers, also met with Gregory Kausner, deputy assistant secretary of state for regional security and arms transfers, at the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Washington Headquarters, according to Lin.
The lawmakers said Taiwan needs more advanced fighter jets and submarines to enhance its defense, and also needs to gain more international space.
Lin said Taiwan will continue to push for the purchase of F-35 fighters from the U.S. but should also consider buying a reasonable number of F-16C/D jets to replace Taiwan's aging F-5s, which are expected to be phased out in the next few years.
When the United States agreed to upgrade Taiwan's current fleet of F-16A/B fighter jets in September 2011, it effectively ruled out the sale of the next-generation F-35s, according to Lin.
It would be ideal if Taiwan could purchase the new fighters, which are capable of vertical and short take-off and landing, Lin said.
But even if the U.S. approves the sale, the global waiting list is so long that it would take 15-20 years for Taiwan's order to be delivered, he added.
While in Washington, the delegation also met with members of the U.S. Congress including Sen. Benjamin Cardin, chairman of the East Asian & Pacific Affairs Subcommittee, and Rep. Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Earlier in New York, the delegation met more than a dozen of the permanent representatives to the United Nations of Taiwan's allies at the U.N. headquarters.
They’d be better off getting together with South Korea for the F-15K, or going for the F-15SE. The F-35 is never going to live up to its billing.
I hope Wi Tu Lo is not in the flight rotation.
Yes, the B-variant is a nice machine and can do some cool tricks, but it’s also the most expensive and Taiwan doesn’t have any aircraft carriers or the need for any, so why would they buy them?
Taiwan needs the ability to establish and maintain total air superiority over its own territory. It does not need strike fighters, it needs interceptors and the best AA missiles and doctrine it can buy.
When my grandson was little, I bought him small models of our fighters. He's 14 now and wants to be a fighter pilot.
His mother wants to strangle me.
I tell him that it's a noble profession. His face lights up.
Sell them 100 F22’s. Sell Israel 100 F22’s. Sell India 10 F22’s. And sell Australia 100 F22’s.
That will be enough to scare the crap out of China and Iran.
Agree. Taiwan should go with the F15SE for now, but get in line for the F-35s to see if it pans out.
The flexibility to operate from short and/or damaged runways at max TO weight.
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