MND COMPLETES ASSESSMENT ON PURCHASE OF F-16C/D FIGHTERS FROM U.S.
ROC Central News Agency
2006-08-18 15:08:25
Taipei, Aug. 18 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has completed a combat assessment on the planned purchase of 66 F-16C/D fighter aircraft from the United States, although the matter is still at the stage of program establishment, MND spokesman Wu Chi-fang said Friday.
Wu also said the ministry has no comment on whether the United States has agreed to the sale and whether the funds have been included in the national defense budget for next year.
The administration plans to raise the budget for national defense next year to 2.85 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), which will mean an increase of about NT$40 billion (US$1.23 billion) over this year's defense budget, MND officials said.
The officials noted that because of military streamlining, personnel spending will not increase rapidly. Next year's increased spending will go mainly toward defense buildup, they added.
According to a Reuters report from Washington late last month, Taiwan is planning to purchase the F-16C/D fighters over a period of five to 10 years, and the deal could be worth US$5.5 billion.
The F-16 C/Ds procurement is part of the Taiwan's arsenal renovation plan as Taiwan has decided to phase out its aging F5E/Fs.,
(By Lilian Wu)
enditem/Li
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