Authorities yesterday confirmed a project to build next-generation fighter jets, with budget proposals to be put forward by the end of this year and the prototype of the new fighter jets expected in 10 years.
National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, the nation’s main weapons research and development unit, has been working on the “Vega project” to develop next-generation fighter jets, institute president Chang Guan-chung (張冠群) said during a question-and-answer session at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee.
The Vega project is reportedly to develop an advanced engine system based on the Indigenous Defense Fighter jet’s TFE-1042-70 engine.
“It would take six to eight years to complete the first stage of the project, and it would take more than 10 years to complete [the first and] the second stage,” Chang said.
“The next-generation fighter jets will be developed after the completion of the Vega project,” Chang said, suggesting that the prototype of the new fighter jets might be developed 10 years after the launch of the project.
The Vega project, a key component of the government’s plan to replace its aging fleet, would be submitted to the legislature later this year for approval, Chang said.
It is the first formal confirmation of the Vega project following weeks of speculations following Minister of National Defense Feng Shih-kuan’s (馮世寬) announcement of a plan to develop new fighters in January.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense’s announcement yesterday that it had changed its defense guideline from “solid defense and effective deterrence” to “solid defense and multi-layered deterrence” was criticized by lawmakers.
The subtle word change, combined with a lack of a detailed defense blueprint, were targets of the criticism.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Tsai Shih-ying (蔡適應) asked how the ministry defined “multi-layered deterrence” and what changes the shift would initiate, but was only given vague answers.
“A ‘multi-layered deterrence’ would be a more practical strategy,” Office for Operations and Planning Director Lieutenant General Chiang Chen-chung (姜振中) said.
“In addition to maintaining a balance between three branches of the armed forces and preserving combat power, [the new guideline] focuses on an efficient use of power” in tactical engagement, Chiang said.
Criticizing the ministry for failing to clearly explain what would be the founding principle of a future military buildup, Tsai and other lawmakers asked ministry officials to present a detailed defense plan associated with the shift before March 19, which is when the ministry’s quadrennial military review is due to be released.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) is aware that Beijing’s treatment of Hong Kong has weakened any possible sentiment for a “one country, two systems” arrangement for Taiwan, and has instructed Chinese Communist Party (CCP) politburo member Wang Huning (王滬寧) to develop new ways of defining cross-strait relations, Japanese news magazine Nikkei Asia reported on Thursday. A former professor of international politics at Fu Dan University, Wang is expected to develop a dialogue that could serve as the foundation for cross-strait unification, and Xi plans to use the framework to support a fourth term as president, Nikkei Asia quoted an anonymous source
LUCKY DATE: The man picked the 10th ‘Super Red Envelope’ in a lottery store in Taoyuan’s Jhongli because he broke up with his girlfriend on Jan. 10 A man who recently broke up with his girlfriend won a NT$1 million (US$32,929) prize in the “NT$20 million Super Red Envelope” lottery after picking a card based on the date of their breakup, Taiwan Lottery Co said yesterday. The man, in his 20s, bought the 10th ticket at a lottery store in Taoyuan’s Jhongli District (中壢), because he broke up with his girlfriend on Jan. 10, the store owner told the lottery company. The “Super Red Envelope” lottery was a limited offering by the company during the Lunar New Year holiday, which ended yesterday. The cards, which cost NT$2,000 each, came with
TOURISM BOOST: The transportation system could help attract more visitors to the area, as the line is to connect multiple cultural sites, a city councilor said Residents in New Taipei City’s Ankeng District (安坑) said the local light rail system might have a positive influence, but raised questions about its practicality. The Ankeng light rail system, which is to commence operations after the Lunar New Year holiday, would cut travel time for commuters from Ankeng to downtown Taipei or New Taipei City by 15 to 20 minutes, the city government said. According to the initial plan, there would be one train every 15 minutes during peak time and additional interval trains would run between the densely populated Ankang Station (安康) and Shisizhang Station (十 四張). To encourage people to
CHAMPION TREES: The team used light detection and ranging imaging to locate the tree, and found that it measured a height of 84.1m and had a girth of 8.5m A team committed to finding the tallest trees in the nation yesterday said that an 84.1m tall Taiwania cryptomerioides tree had been named the tallest tree in Taiwan and East Asia. The Taiwan Champion Trees, a team consisting of researchers from the Council of Agriculture’s Taiwan Forestry Research Institute and National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), in June last year used light detection and ranging (LiDAR) imaging to find the giant tree, numbered 55214, upstream of the Daan River (大安溪). A 20-member expedition team led by Rebecca Hsu (徐嘉君), an assistant researcher at the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, set out to find the
RSS