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Military officials admit purchase pushed by Sikorsky

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) yesterday revealed in a classified report to the legislature's Defense Committee that a purchase of 11 navy helicopters was not based on an independent assessment of the nation's defense needs, but due to a suggestion from Sikorsky, the US manufacturer.

The aircraft in question are 11 Sikorsky S-70C(M)-1 anti-submarine helicopters.

One opposition party lawmaker criticized the purchase as "questionable," since it suggests that Taiwan's national defense has been subject to the influence of foreign arms dealers.

"It is hard to believe that the navy should have listened to the suggestion of a foreign arms manufacturer in buying the aircraft. If the military is so easily influenced by foreign arms manufacturers, where is our defense `autonomy?'" said the lawmaker, who declined to be identified.

"The report clearly describes how the navy made the decision to buy the helicopters. It is highly questionable whether the navy was justified in following the advice of a manufacturer in making the deal," the lawmaker said.

At the same time, the lawmaker said she was puzzled about why the MND would be willing to reveal what went on during the decision-making process behind the deal. She added that, according to past practice, this type of information would have been kept hidden from lawmakers.

The MND refused to comment on the issue, saying it is its principle not to openly discuss arms purchases.

The controversial helicopter purchase is just one of the subjects of the MND's report.

In the report, the MND says that 92 percent of the weaponry purchased during the past decade was foreign-made.

The US was Taiwan's major supplier of weaponry during the period, accounting for around 80 percent of all items.

Among the three services, the air force was the largest buyer, accounting for 62 percent of the money spent on weapons purchases.

Items purchased by the the air force include: 12 C-130 transport aircraft, 20 upgraded S-2T anti-submarine aircraft (now transferred to the navy), 200 AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missiles, 200 AIM-120C air-to-air missiles, 900 AIM-9L sidewinder air-to-air missiles, six E-2T early warning aircraft, 1 Boeing 737-800 presidential aircraft, 60 Mirage 2000-5 fighter planes, 1,200 MICA air-to-air missiles, 1,000 Matra Magic air-to-air missiles, 130 Indigenous Defense Fighters, as well as the locally-developed Tien Chien I and Tien Chien II air-to-air missiles.

The army and navy, though smaller buyers, also acquired significant weaponry.

The army got 160 M-60A3 tanks, three batteries of Patriot PAC-II air defense systems, 36 Avenger air defense system units, 63 AH-1W attack helicopters, 44 OH-58D reconnaissance helicopters, 1,000 Hellfire anti-1 missiles, nine CH-47SD transport helicopters and 162 Hawk anti-aircraft missiles.
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