Taipei, Nov. 3(CNA) The Republic of China Air Force successfully test-fired the Sparrow air-to-air missile last May, ROC Air Force Headquarters revealed Friday.
It was the first time the air force had conducted a live test-firing of the American-made missiles.
According to air force headquarters, the test-firing was carried out by an F-16 jet fighter from a Chiayi airbase on May 23, three days after the inauguration of President Chen Shui-bian's new government.
The air force ordered 600 Sparrow AIM-7M missiles when it signed contracts to procure 150 F-16 jet fighters in 1992. They were included in the plane's weaponry from 1997.
The Sparrows are intermediate-range air-to-air missiles. During the 1991 Persian Gulf War, they were used by American forces to shoot down 25 Iraqi planes.
Wu said that the missiles would pose a threat to SU-27 jet fighters and other mainland Chinese aircraft in case of air battles over the Taiwan Strait. (By Victor Lai)
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