A defense official yesterday defended the US-made Apache attack helicopter against doubts that it might not be worth buying after one of them was forced to land in Iraq and its crew was taken hostage.
Lieutenant General Tony Sun (孫韜玉), director of the Ministry of National Defense's Military Armament Bureau, said the Apache probably crash-landed because of mechanical problems, as the US has claimed.
Iraq said that a farmer shot it down.
"Television footage shows that the Apache did not sustain any damage that could have been caused by bullets. The helicopter was probably forced to land because of a mechanical failure," Sun said.
"Despite what has happened, the Apache is still the best attack helicopter in the world in terms of its operation systems, firepower and functions. We have carefully assessed the helicopter's usefulness to us," he said.
Sun made the remarks yesterday at a meeting of the legislature's National Defense Committee in response to inquiries from lawmakers over whether the government would still try to buy the Apache.
"Nothing is impossible in the battlefield. But judging from evidence that is available so far, we believe what the US has said regarding the cause of the incident," Sun said.
"But every weapon system has its weakness. There is always a way to counter a weapons system," he said.
Another defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said one incident did not prove anything.
"We believe that even if the Apache was shot down by a rifle, it was an isolated case," the source said.
The army is reported to be planning to buy 30 Apaches to equip its three airborne brigades. The deal would cost about NT$40 billion.
While the army has expressed its desire to buy the helicopter, budgetary constraints mean it might not be able to do so for several years.
The military has said it will give priority to boosting the navy over the next 10 years.
The US is apparently willing to sell the helicopter to Taiwan.
The Apache will be replaced by a new type of helicopter -- the RAH-66 Comanche -- as the main attack helicopter in the US army.
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