Military pledges in-depth review of missile performance
ROC Central News Agency
2011/03/23 14:12:08
Taipei, March 23 (CNA) The military will conduct a comprehensive, in-depth review of the reasons for the unsatisfactory performance of its missile fleet, Defense Minister Kao Hua-chu said Wednesday in response to reports of missiles fired during recent tests missing their targets.
Kao said there might be both human and mechanical factors responsible for the problem, since the drills involved the use of target drones in simulated war scenarios.
The review will cover areas such as personnel qualifications, ammunition storage and ammunition lifespan, he said.
The issue came to wide attention after six out of 19 missiles fired in a Jan. 18 exercise, three of which were Sparrows, missed their targets.
In a more recent test conducted March 21, two of the four missiles fired -- a Sparrow and a Mica -- missed their targets.
According to Air Force Chief of Staff Wang Cheng-hsiao, after the test firing in January, the military made corrections based on recommendations by the U.S. and French manufacturers.
The military will make further expert assessments of the outcome of the latest tests, he added. (By Emmanuelle Tzeng, Kelven Huang and Y.F. Low) ENDITEM/J
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