Military struts its paratrooper capabilities
ROC Central News Agency
2011/04/14 12:05:49
By Emmanuelle Tzeng and Alex Jiang
Taipei, April 14 (CNA) The military held war games to drill its paratrooper and airborne defense units at an airbase in central Taiwan Thursday as part of the five-day Hankuang exercises.
The 50-minute drill, which started at 7: 30 a.m. at the Ching Chuan Kang Airbase in Taichung City, resembled a scrimmage, albeit with heavy weaponry and military expertise.
Planners divided a total of 2,596 troops into two teams -- attackers and defenders.
The attack group launched two IDF jet fighters in a bid to clear the ground. Then, an onslaught of paratroopers, including 206 elite airborne soldiers, jumped out of transport aircraft to take the territory.
At the same time, ground defenders used the weapons at their disposal to repel the invaders. They deployed AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters, OH-58D scout and attack helicopters, and physical barriers to block the advances by the paratroopers. In addition, the defenders also released smoke to disorient the airborne troops during their landing.
This drill marked the first time in which female soldiers -- eight in all -- took part in a simulated parachute offensive, the Ministry of National Defense said.
The drill came two days after the military staged another simulation to practice emergency landings and takeoffs on a section of freeway in southern Taiwan, which acts as a runway of last resort if airbases have already been taken out by enemy bombers.
This year's Hankuang military exercises are being held from April 11-15.
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