Five US defense companies have expressed interest in purchasing Taiwan’s aging F-5 jets that were in service for half a century until late last year, the air force confirmed yesterday.
The Air Force Command Headquarters said it would soon offer the F-5s for sale through a public tender and transfer the jets to the winner based on the US Security Assistance Management Manual.
The air force’s confirmation of the potential sale came after local media reported that the five US companies were interested in purchasing the more than 40 F-5s that Taiwan has deemed to be in good condition despite being in service for nearly 50 years.
Photo: CNA
They are hoping to sell the F-5s to the US Air Force and Navy to be used as enemy fighters in training programs, the Central News Agency reported.
Taiwan’s air force has about 50 F-5s that have mostly served as trainer jets. All of them were retired from service late last year and replaced by indigenous Advanced Jet Trainers, also known as Yung Ying (勇鷹, “Brave Eagle”).
Four of the F-5s, which have been converted into RF-5 reconnaissance jets, would remain operational until the military receives MS-110 pods, MQ-9B drones and domestic uncrewed aerial vehicles in the coming years to boost its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, an unnamed source previously said.
Based at the eastern Hualien Air Base, the RF-5s’ main mission is to conduct reconnaissance missions with F-16Vs and observe Chinese forces.
During natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, the RF-5s also help gather information on the scale of the destruction.
Washington approved the sale of six MS-110s to Taiwan in October 2020, but the military has yet to receive them. The delivery is expected to be completed next year.
In 2026, the military is scheduled to receive the first two MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones it purchased from the US, and the other two in 2027.
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