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To: Goldwater4ever

Surely you are joking? The problem with the submarines is that the Taiwanese are demanding they be built in Taiwan at an increased cost of 100s of millions of dollars. In case you missed it, the U.S. plans to build the Israeli variant of the German Dolphin submarine in the U.S. The Kidd class destroyers have been updated to be compatible with the AEGIS system. That makes them part of the ballistic missile screen. And the submarine hunting P-3 aircraft are as modern as anything we have.

What's holding it up is Taiwan is not committed to defending itself.


24 posted on 03/13/2005 11:57:15 AM PST by panzer_grey
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To: panzer_grey
Name one shipyard in the United States that has built a diesel submarine in the last 5 years.

As for the Kidd Class:
- That the DDG-993 Kidd-class destroyer is more than 20 years old and its structure and equipment are aged;

- That the destroyer has a displacement of 9,783 metric tons with a draught of 10 meters, meaning it would be unable to anchor at any of Taiwan's existing military ports;

- That with its huge size and low mobilization speed during wartime, it would be an easy target for Beijing's forces;

- That the destroyers were designed exclusively for Iran and its combat system is less efficient than its counterpart Spuance-class destroyers that the U.S. Navy is currently using;

- That its special design and specifications require expensive logistic and maintenance costs;

- That the destroyer was designed for long-haul ocean-going combat missions, which runs counter to Taiwan's need for vessels capable of coastal combat missions;

- That the number of personnel aboard one single Kidd-class destroyer is around 400, making it a heavy financial burden simply in personnel costs and related training fees;

- That its mechanical 3D radar system is less sophisticated than the Aegis radar system of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, which he claimed are the backbone of the U.S. Navy, while its air surveillance capability is not as good as that of early-warning surveillance aircraft;

- That its Standard II anti-aircraft missile system is not capable of deterring missile attacks;

- That its command, control, communications and intelligence systems are incompatible with those of the Lafayette-class frigates which are currently in ROC Navy service;

- That the cost of NT$25 billion for four Kidd-class destroyers, plus costs for initiation of weaponry systems and related equipment, port reconstruction, logistics and personnel will be a mammoth expense for the government; and

- That the United States tried twice in 1998 and 1999 to sell the four Kidd destroyers to Greece and Australia, but were turned down.

Hence, are not Aegis equipped destroyers.
25 posted on 03/13/2005 12:09:32 PM PST by Goldwater4ever (Aut Pax Aut Bellum)
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To: panzer_grey
Your posts are not honest or accurate.

What's your beef?

54 posted on 03/14/2005 10:53:55 AM PST by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
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