Republic of China Air Force
The Republic of China Air Force (中華民國空軍; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó Kōngjūn) is the aviation branch of the armed forces of the Republic of China on Taiwan, and is often viewed as one of the most professional and capable branches of the Republic of China's armed forces. The ROCAF's primary mission is the defense of the airspace over and around Taiwan against an attack by the People's Republic of China. Current priorities of the ROCAF include the development of long range reconnaissance and surveillance networks, integrating C4ISTAR systems to increase battle effectiveness, procuring counterstrike weapons, next generation fighters, and hardening airfields and other facilities to survive a surprise attack.
As of May 2005, the Ministry of National Defense has indicated its intention to transfer command of all defensive missile systems to the ROCAF, while future offensive missiles will be placed under an as yet unformed missile command.
Organization
The National Emblem of the Republic of China is used as the roundel for ROC military aircraftLike most of the other branches of the ROC armed forces, much of the ROCAF's structure and organization is patterned after the United States Air Force. Like the USAF, the ROCAF has a wing → group → squadron structure.
Air Force General Headquarters (空軍總司令部)
Air Force GHQ is subordinate to the General Staff (military), the Minister of Defense (civilian), and the ROC President.
Internal Units: Personnel, Combat Readiness & Training, Logistics, Planning, Communications, Electronics & Information, General Affairs, Comptroller, Inspector General, Political Warfare.
Air Force Combatant Command (作戰司令部)
Weather Wing (氣象聯隊): Tamsui, Taipei County
Communications, Air Traffic Control & Information Wing (通信航管資訊聯隊): Taipei City
Air Tactical Control Wing (戰術管制聯隊)
Air Defense Artillery & Garrison Command (防砲警衛司令部)
Education, Training & Doctrine Command (教育訓練暨準則發展司令部)
Logistics Command (後勤司令部)
Combat Wings (作戰聯隊)
401st Tactical Fighter Wing (401聯隊): Hualien AFB flying flying F-16A/B
17th Fighter Squadron "Thor"
26th Fighter Squadron "Witch"
27th Fighter Squadron "Black Dragon"
427th Tactical Fighter Wing (427聯隊): Ching Chuan Kang AFB flying F-CK IDF-1A/B
7th Fighter Squadron "Wolf"
8th Fighter Squadron "Flying Dragon"
28th Fighter Squadron "Baby Dragon"
439th Combined Wing (439聯隊): Pingtung AFB flying C-130H,: E-2T, and C-130HE
10th Tactical Airlift Group
101st Airlift Squadron
102st Airlift Squadron
20th Electronic Warfare Group
6th Electronic Warfare Squadron
2nd Early Warning Squadron
443rd Tactical Fighter Wing (443聯隊): Tainan AFB flying F-CK-1A/B
1st Fighter Squadron
3rd Fighter Squadron
9th Fighter Squadron
455th Tactical Fighter Wing (455聯隊): Chiayi AFB flying F-16A/B and S-70C
Air Rescue Group
21st Fighter Squadron
22nd Fighter Squadron
23rd Fighter Squadron
499th Tactical Fighter Wing (499聯隊): Hsinchu AFB flying Mirage 2000-5Di/Ei
41st Fighter Squadron "Holy Shield"
42nd Fighter Squadron "Cobra"
48th Fighter Squadron "Holy Eagle"
737th Fighter Training Wing (737聯隊): Taitung AFB flying F-5E/F
44th Fighter Squadron
45th Fighter Squadron
46th Fighter Squadron
Air Force Base Command (基地指揮部)
Sungshan Base Command (松山基地指揮部)
Taoyuan Base Command (桃園基地指揮部)
Air Force Academy (空軍官校): Gangshan AFB
History
Formally established in 1920 as the Aviation Ministry, the ROCAF was active during the tenure of the ROC on Mainland China. During the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), the ROCAF participated in attacks on Japanese warships on the eastern front and along the Yangtze river including support for the Battle of Shanghai in 1937. The Chinese frontline fighter aircraft initially comprised mainly of the Curtiss Hawk II and III and the Boeing P-26 model 281, and engaged Japanese fighters in many major air battles beginning on the 14th of August 1937, when Imperial Japanese Navy warplanes raided Chienchiao airbase; "814" has thus become known as "Air Force Day". Chinese Boeing P-26/281 fighters engaged Japanese Mitsubishi A5M fighters in what is among the world's first aerial dogfighting between all-metal monoplane fighter aircraft. A unique mission in April 1938 saw two Chinese B-10 bombers fly a mission over Japan, but dropping only propaganda leaflets over the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Saga. It was a war of attrition for the Chinese pilots, as many of their most experienced ace fighter pilots, such as Lieutenant Liu Tsui-Kang and Colonel Kao Chih-Hang were lost.
ROCAF General HQ was established in June 1946. From 1946-1948, during the Chinese Civil War, the ROCAF participated in combat against the People's Liberation Army engaging in air to air combat on at least eleven occasions in the areas surrounding the Taiwan Strait. The ROCAF reportedly enjoyed a 31:1 kill ratio against the PLA. GHQ was evacuated to Taiwan along with the rest of the ROC Government in April 1949 following the Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War. The ROCAF assisted in halting the PLA advance at the Battle of Kuningtou on Kinmen the same year.
Since then, ROCAF regularly patrolled the straits and fought many engagements with their Communist counterpart, the PLAAF, ROCAF soon received up-to-date equipment from the US, such as the F-86 Sabrejets.
During the Cold War, the ROCAF was involved in combat air patrols over the Taiwan Strait and engaged the PLAAF on several occasions. ROCAF was also the testbed of American technology at this time. The first successful kill scored by an air-to-air missile was accomplished by an ROCAF F-86 Sabrejet with then experimental AIM-9 Sidewinder.
ROCAF pilots also flew U-2 recon overflights of the PRC during this time with assistance from the USAF. Known as the Black Cat Squadron, they flew 102 missions, and lost 5 planes. All five were shot down by SA-2 surface-to-air missiles, the same type of surface-to-air missile that shot down Gary Powers over the USSR in 1960.
In 1984, Taiwan began the development of the IDF (Indigenous Defense Fighter), after China lobbied US State Department to block the sale of F-16. Maiden flight was made in 1989, and the plane entered service in 1994. Since then Taiwan has managed to procure the F-16 from the US and Mirage 2000 from France.
Equipment
ROCAF AIDC F-CK Indigenous Defence FightersThe ROCAF's armament includes over 400 combat aircraft, the mainstay being the F-16 and F-CK-1 IDFs, with the Mirage-2000s being its most formidable defense fighter. The older F-5s are being phased out slowly. Because of the greater technology curve in the ROCAF, it has been experiencing some of the greater systems integration challenges of the armed forces.
Most of the ROCAF's armament is purchased from the United States which also assists in the training of some ROCAF pilots at Luke AFB in Arizona. The Mirage-2000 fighters were purchased from France in the early 1990s. Some of the ROCAF's aircraft and weapons are also developed domestically such as the F-CK-1 IDF fighter and the Sky Sword series of missiles.
Recent procurement plans
In January 2006, the Air Force announced it wished to buy planes with VSTOL capability, especially the US F-35. It also wished to upgrade its current F-16s and Mirage 2000-5s, and perhaps purchase second-hand F-15s. However, the US has rejected the sale of F-35s or F-15s. There were no reports as to how France had responded.
In mid 2006, the Air Force announced plans to buy 66 F-16 C/D Block 52 aircraft from the US for $3.1 billion USD. On October 2nd 2006, the US has suspended the purchase of the 66 F-16s. According to sources cited by National Defense Minister Lee Jye, the U.S. stance is that until a long-stalled arms purchase package consisting of six Patriot Missile Batteries, 12 P-3C Orion anti-submarine aircraft, and 8 conventional submarines clears the legislature, it does not see Taiwan as having a consistent military procurement plan and has temporarily blocked the sale. Delays the Taiwanese Legislative approving the 2007 defence budget have meant the purchase is still suspended.
On February 28th 2007, it was reported that the U.S. Defense Department approved an order made by Taiwan for 218 AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM, as well as 235 AGM-65G2 Maverick missiles, associated launchers and other equipment to add to Taiwan's current inventory. The total value quoted for the recent arms purchase was revealed to be $421 million US, if all options are exercised
Fighter Aircraft
Type Number
F-16A/B 146
Mirage 2000-5 56
F-CK IDF-1A/B 128
F-5E/F 60+
Early Warning & Electronic Warfare
Type Number
E-2T Hawkeye 6
C-130HE 1
Training
Type Number
AIDC AT-3A/B 36/17
T-34 41
Transports
Type Number Notes
C-130H 19
Beechcraft B-1900C 11 2 Calibration
Fokker F50 3
B737-800 1 VIP transport
Air-launched Missiles
Type Number
AIM-7 600
AIM-9 1082+
AIM-120C-5 120
AIM-120C-7 218(on order)
AGM-65B 500
AGM-65G 40
AGM-65G2 235 (on order)
AGM-84 57
Sky Sword I (天劍一) 300
Sky Sword II (天劍二) 250
MICA 960
Magic II 480
Reference :
www.globalsecurity.org