F-16V jets in the air force's Fourth and Fifth Tactical Fighter Wings successfully tested medium-range missiles on targets beyond visual range.
It was the first time Taiwan has tested the AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile on targets beyond visual range.
At 5:10am and 5:30am, four F-16V jets took off from air bases in Hualien and Chiayi counties, each carrying two AIM-120 missiles, with orders for one jet from each base to fire a missile at a target drone.
Photo: Yu Tai-lang, Taipei Times
After taking off in Hualien, F-16V No. 6808 and 6805 flew toward Taiwan’s southeast, where the former launched a missile that hit the target drone while the latter acted as backup.
After successfully completing the mission, both aircraft returned safely to the Hualien base at 7:20am.
US approval for Taiwan testing the AIM-120 missiles in the country conveys US support for “resisting China and protecting Taiwan,” a retired F-16 pilot who trained at the US’ Luke Air Force Base said.
It is also a concrete example of Taiwan-US military cooperation, as it means Taiwan can use advanced weaponry independent of the US, the pilot said.
Allowing the air force to test-fire the missile outside of US territory is also an indirect acknowledgement of Taiwan’s status as an independent country, he added.
The US first agreed to sell 200 AIM-120 missiles to Taiwan in September 2000, but did not deliver them until after China had acquired a similar weapons system in 2003.
Prior to delivery, the air force tested the missile in Arizona, followed by a subsequent live-fire test in Guam and domestic testing in simulators.
Since the initial purchase of 200 AIM-120 missiles in 2000, Taiwan ordered 218 in 2007, 200 in 2023 and 123 this year.
The US first approved live-fire AIM-120 tests within Taiwan in 2021.
The AIM-120 is capable of operating in all-weather conditions, including surface-to-air versions that can be mounted on ground vehicles, with a range of more than 100km.
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