Demonstrates Newest Squadron of Fighters at Ceremony

Taiwan's cooperation with Washington grew this week, when President Tsai Ingwen commissioned the first combat wing of F-16V fighters upgraded with American assistance to bolster the island's defenses amid rising tensions over territorial sovereignty. In a ceremony commemorating the addition of another squadron, the country excitedly displayed their new Vipers by demonstrating low formation passes and combat take offs to music before a crowd.

Frequent exercises and border testing incidents have raised fears of conflict in the region as mainland China glares over the strait at the autonomous island nation. The Viper model of the long running F-16 Fighting Falcon has proven to be a reliable, affordable, and competent single-engine fighter that punches above its cost class. A hot-rodded 4th generation multi-role fighter that integrates modern avionics, cutting edge targeting systems, and multi-role, all weather performance, the Viper shows just how far the platform has come from its early years as a daytime dogfighter. 

Taiwan has been busily converting 141 original F-16A/B jets into the F-16V standard, of which 64 have been completed. Tohurry the process along, they ordered 66 new production Vipers from Lockheed Martin, with Raytheon's most current spec of AIM-9X Sidewinder AAM. The U.S. approved the $8 billion sale of F-16's in 2019, which, when completed, will take their total fleet to about 1/6 of the total fighter complement of China. The F-16V has been a good choice for Taiwan so far, with a flyaway cost a fraction of the more advanced F-35.

While all-out aerial conflict will hopefully remain in the realm of the hypothetical, Taiwan believes its smaller, but more highly trained cadre will be able to defray the numerical advantage of the People's Liberation Army Air Force. Until recent years, most PLA aircraft struggled with adequate range for long-duration missions over the area, as well as easilytracked forms that would leave the island with plenty of radar warning. The most advanced, stealth-adjacent fighter, the J-20 Soaring Dragon, has only been produced in small handfuls to date, but China appears hungry to make as many as they can. Whether the enhanced radar or SABR targeting pods on the F-16V can provide enough warning beyond visual range, or if the Viper can leverage its dogfighting capability through smart deployment, only outright conflict can prove.

FMI: www.lockheedmartin.com