Taiwan has equipped its most sophisticated fighter aircraft with advanced air-to-air missiles in response to the frequent presence of aircraft from the People's Liberation Army near the independent island.
The air force of Taiwan announced that they had purchased AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles from the United States. These missiles have been given to their F-16 Viper squadrons, responsible for responding to fly-bys from the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The missiles were delivered and set up on schedule as planned.
Taiwan has upgraded all of its 64 F-16Vs stationed at the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing in Chiayi with AIM-9X Block II missiles to enhance their tracking and precision-strike abilities, according to South China Morning Post. Additionally, F-16Vs at the 5th Tactical Fighter Wing in Hualien are also undergoing the same upgrade process.
The US used AIM-9X missiles to bring down a supposed Chinese spy balloon in US airspace in February. In 2016, Taiwan collaborated with defense contractor Lockheed Martin to enhance its 141 F-16A/B fighter jets, buying 140 AIM-9X Block II missiles from the US.
By the end of this year, all the conversions are supposed to be done, and the F-16 squadrons in Hualien have already received over 40 upgraded jets. The US has also approved the sale of 66 additional F-16Vs to Taiwan, which are estimated to be delivered in 2026.
The defense ministry of the island purchased 100 additional AIM-9X missiles from the US for NT$2.4 billion (US$78.4 million) in January. The missiles are expected to be delivered by 2030.
The JHMCS
The Taiwanese air force has reported that the JHMCS allows pilots to engage weapons with a "first look, first shot" approach. The system is equipped with nighttime capabilities that allow pilots to effectively target enemy aircraft and ground targets using onboard weapons and sensors. However, the island has only purchased 40 of these systems for its F-16V squadrons, which cost approximately NT$12 million each.
The F-16 fighter jets in Taiwan were equipped with older AIM and AIM-120 missiles. The United States recently sold 200 new AIM-120 missiles to Taiwan in March. These new missiles use advanced radar guidance and can operate in any weather conditions, even during the day and at night.
The Tensions Between China and Taiwan
China considers Taiwan its territory and has been threatening it with military action, while many nations, including the US, do not recognize Taiwan as a separate country but are against any forceful alteration of the current situation.
The Chinese military conducted military exercises near the island in an unprecedented manner in August, following a visit by Nancy Pelosi, the former US House speaker, to Taipei. China considered this visit as a breach of its sovereignty.
The PLA has increased its military activities near Taiwan, frequently sending warplanes into the island's air defense identification zone, crossing the informal boundary between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and even circling the island. As a result, Taiwan's air force is forced to respond by sending out fighter jets.
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