Older Planes Involved In 32 Fatal Accidents

With a neighbor like China, occasionally rumbling like a grouchy volcano in a fitful sleep... it's no wonder the island country of Taiwan is interested in bulking up its military.

That's even more true in the wake of a fatal crash involving a Taiwanese air force F-5F in the southern county of Chiayi over the weekend, that killed one of the plane's two pilots.

While the cause of that accident is not yet known... officials are quick to point out Taiwan's nearly 300 locally-built Northrop F-5s are over 30 years old, and have been involved in 32 fatal accidents in that time.

Legislator Hsueh Ling, quoted in Forbes, recently said "it is ridiculous to continue operating such aircraft, risking the lives of pilots."

The answer? Replacing the old planes with advanced US-made F-16 C and D "Block 50" model fighters (below), to complement Taiwan's 146 F-16 A and B model planes, 56 French-made Mirages and 128 locally-designed "Indigenous Defense Fighters."

Defense ministry spokesman Wu Chi-fang said the air force has drafted short- and long-term acquisition plans... and discussed those plans with US officials when Taiwanese military officers visited Washington last month.

FMI: www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/taiwan/weapons.htm