The air force yesterday rejected as false and unfounded media reports suggesting that one of its Indigenous Defense Fighter jets had been automatically tracked by the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) missile defense system during a routine patrol last year.
According to the reports, China’s S-300 surface-to-air missile battery in Longtian, Fujian Province, locked on to an F-CK-1 Ching-kuo air superiority jet flying out of Tainan’s 443rd Tactical Fighter Wing some time last year.
The reports add that in response, the pilot immediately performed a tactical retreat.
The squadron was performing a routine patrol on the eastern portion of the median line of the Taiwan Strait, according to reports.
The Air Force Command Headquarters yesterday said in a statement that during sorties, all of Taiwan’s air elements are required to refrain from fleeing, taunting or showing weakness toward aggressors.
The command firmly rejected the media reports of the missile lock as false, the statement said.
Meanwhile, the PLA is expected to acquire Russia-built S-400 surface-to-air missiles that have a longer effective range than the older S-300 system.
With an estimated range of about 400km, the S-400 has been praised in Chinese media outlets, which have dubbed it the “AWACS [airborne early warning and control system] killer.”
Military experts said that Taiwan’s E-2T/K AWACS aircraft could be threatened by the missile, as their patrols take them within its estimated range.
The air force is aware of China’s weapons procurements and contingency plans have been prepared, the military said.
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