The air force’s proposed next-generation fighter jet is to be armed with a new Tien Chien missile to be developed by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology, a high-ranking defense official said yesterday.
The missile, tentatively named Tien Chien V, is to have a range of 160km, equivalent to the US-made AIM-120C-8, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The weapon is based on the Tien Chien II medium-range air-to-air missile, they added.
Photo: Liu Yu-chieh, Taipei Times
Tien Chien V missiles would be compatible with domestically made joint helmet-mounted cueing systems and have improved anti-jamming capabilities, which would enhance the speed of target acquisition and pilots’ ability to counter enemy electronic warfare, the source said.
The new missile is needed to meet the next-generation fighter’s operational requirements and design parameters, as the air force has specified that the jet must utilize an internal weapons bay to enable stealth capabilities, they said.
The jet might incorporate vector thrust and advanced avionics, including active electronically scanned array radar and a tactical data link, they said, adding that the air force has yet to make a final decision on the platform’s capabilities.
Photo: Ritchie B. Tongo, EPA-EFE
The Chungshan Institute makes the Tien Chien I short-range air-to-air missiles and the medium-range Tien Chien II, in addition to the latter’s ship-launched and ground vehicle-mounted derivatives, which it refers to as Tien Chien III, the official said.
The developers skipped the name Tien Chien IV, they said.
Separately, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday said that a Ching Chuan Kang Air Base “open house” event in Taichung was intended to educate Taiwanese about the armed forces’ achievements in preparing the nation’s defense.
Photo: CNA
In a post on Facebook, Tsai called for support and appreciation for military service members.
After a three-year hiatus of the air shows due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s open house featured a demonstration by the Thunder Tigers Aerobatics Team, a showcase of the military’s main combat aircraft, military band performances and displays that included nearly 100 stands.
Taiwan’s domestically designed AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle trainer jets conducted a flyover in a formation of five, marking a first for that type of aircraft.
Photo: Ritchie B. Tongo, EPA-EFE
Lockheed Martin F-16Vs, Dassault Mirage 2000s and AIDC Indigenous Defense Fighters were among the other tactical aircraft that carried out aerial demonstrations at the event.
The army and the navy, which also participated in the event, displayed vehicles and weapons systems currently in service, including the Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, armored fighting vehicles, Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III missiles, and the Chungshan Institute-developed Albatross drone and Cardinal uncrewed combat aerial vehicle.
WHEELING AND DEALING? Hou You-yi, Ko Wen-je, Eric Chu and Ma Ying-jeou are under investigation for allegedly offering bribes for the other side to drop out of the race Taipei prosecutors have started an investigation into allegations that four top politicians involved in attempts to form a “blue-white” presidential ticket have contravened election regulations. Listed as defendants are Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate and New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) of the KMT and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲). The case stemmed from judicial complaints filed last month with the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office alleging that the KMT (blue) and the TPP (white) had engaged in bribery by offering money or other enticements
COUNTER DISINFORMATION: More engagement and media literacy are needed to push back against misinformation and claims that the US is an unreliable partner, the AIT director said The US is “confident” that Taiwan does not face an imminent threat of a Chinese invasion, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Sandra Oudkirk told a US public radio show, adding that Washington remains committed to defensively arming the nation. She made the comment during an interview on All Things Considered, broadcast on Friday on US-based National Public Radio. “There is an important distinction between making plans and training troops, and getting ready to do something,” Oudkirk said, on whether she thinks Beijing plans to attack Taiwan in the near future. Chinese officials have told Washington that “their preference is for peaceful reunification,
EXPOSED: Some Taipei wardens reported joining the trips out of peer pressure, while others said they were relieved it was made public so they could refuse, a city councilor said Nearly 30 percent of Taipei borough wardens have joined group tours to China that were partially funded by the Chinese government, leading prosecutors probing potential Chinese interference in January’s elections to question local officials, an investigation showed. Democratic Progressive Party Taipei City councilors Chien Shu-pei (簡舒培) and Chen E-jun (陳怡君) have reported cases of Taipei borough wardens inviting residents to join inexpensive privately organized group tours to China that were partially funded by the Chinese government. The six-day trips reportedly cost NT$10,000 to NT$15,000, the councilors said. An investigation by the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) showed that nearly 30 percent
ELIGIBLE FOR JANUARY: All presidential candidates and their running mates meet the requirements to run for office, and none hold dual citizenship, the CEC said Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Legislator and vice presidential candidate Cynthia Wu (吳欣盈) is working with the Central Election Commission (CEC) to resolve issues with her financial disclosure statement, a spokesman for the candidate said yesterday, after the commission published the statements of all three presidential candidates and their running mates, while confirming their eligibility to run in the Jan. 13 election. Wu’s office spokesman, Chen Yu-cheng (陳宥丞), said the candidate encountered unforeseen difficulties disclosing her husband’s finances due to being suddenly thrust into the campaign. She is also the first vice presidential nominee to have a foreign spouse, complicating the reporting of