The navy has removed its northern-most radar, which was deployed on the Pengchiayu islet, after activating a long-range radar on the island late last year, defense sources said yesterday.
The new long-range radar, located in a mountain in northern Taiwan, can cover all the areas that the Pengchiayu one was able to detect. The Pengchiayu radar was a medium-range one.
The removal of the radar leaves the Pengchiayu islet, around 55km north of Keelung, only a few short-range radars operated by the coast guards.
Naval personnel stationed on the islet have also been deployed elsewhere. Now the islet is occupied mainly by coast guards. A few air force personnel remain there to collect weather information.
A high-ranking naval official said there is no need to worry about the removal of the navy's radar from the Pengchiayu since its functions will be replaced by a new long-range radar in northern Taiwan.
"The new radar can see much farther than the Pengchiayu one. It is also easier to maintain and operate since it sits on the island," the official said.
It is not known what type of long-range radar the navy has activated to replace the one in Pengchiayu. The radar is said to have a range of 370km, capable of detecting any Chinese warship moving in the Taiwan Strait or approaching Taiwan from the north.
It is one of three long-range radars that the navy is scheduled to install around the country by 2005.
The fixed radar network will be used in combination with the Kidd-class destroyers -- which are equipped with radars that have a longer detection range.
The navy will buy a total of four Kidds, and the first will be delivered in 2005.
The Kidd destroyer is like a mobile radar, and has greater survivability under enemy fire, covering the dead space of a fixed radar.
As more long-range radars either fixed or mobile become operational, shorter-range radars like the one on Pengchiayu are to be phased out.
Pengchiayu used to be heavily guarded by the military, but its military value has dropped in recent years.
The CGA took over the islet three years ago. It focuses its attention on the protection of Taiwan fishermen working in the area around the islet.
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