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President gives thumbs-up to upgraded IDF jets

ROC Central News Agency

2014/01/16 16:15:04

Taipei, Jan. 16 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou praised the first batch of upgraded indigenous defense fighter (IDF) jets and the installation of a new weapons system at a ceremony Thursday at an air base in the southern city of Tainan.

Ma, who presided over the ceremony to mark the upgrading of the locally developed IDFs that was conducted by the Taichung-based Aerospace Industrial Development Corp., praised the improvements in the aircraft's radar, avionics and weapons systems.

The mid-life upgrade has also improved the braking system in the IDFs, providing better protection for pilots, Ma said. The new digitalized braking system is said to give more control to the pilot and therefore make landing safer.

With the upgrade, the IDF's capabilities are close to those of the F-16, said the president, adding some new functions of the 71 upgraded fighters -- called IDF C/Ds -- are even better than those on the U.S.-made fighter jets, which the Republic of China (Taiwan) Air Force also operates.

Ma also touted the Wan Chien bomb that can be carried by the IDF C/Ds. The cluster bomb was researched and produced by the military-run Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology.

Similar to the AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon employed by the U.S. military, the Wan Chien can strike targets from a distance to take out an enemy airfield without exposing the IDF to anti-aircraft fire.

Without confirming its reported range, an Air Force officer said it is greater than any Russian-made surface-to-air missiles deployed by the Chinese.

According to local media reports, Wan Chien has a range of over 200 kilometers and its mass production will begin in the next year.

With a turbine engine and a GPS guidance system installed, the Wan Chien can be launched from the air to attack airports in southeastern China, the Air Force said.

Ma also took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of the military remaining on guard even though ties across the Taiwan Strait have improved in recent years.

'With efforts over the last five years, cross-strait ties are at their best in 60 years, but we still have to remain vigilant in maintaining the military's defense capabilities,' Ma said.

In addition to the upgrade program of the IDFs, Taiwan has since November begun taking delivery of P-3C anti-submarine aircraft and AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from the United States, Ma noted. 'This shows that our military continues to advance its training and bolster its combat readiness,' he said.

Another 56 IDF fighters at the Ching Chuan Kang air base in Taichung are set to be given the upgrades later this year.

All of Taiwan's IDFs are estimated to be capable of carrying the Wan Chien systems by early 2017.

(By Elaine Hou)
ENDITEM/J