|
|
''
|
|---|
| Personnel | 53,000 (2004 est.)
|
| Combat aircraft | 420 (2005 est.)
|
| Early warning | 4
|
| Transport | 36
|
| Electronic warfare | 5
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| Helicopters | 35
|
The (中華民國空軍; branch of the
Armed Forces Of The Republic Of China (Taiwan), and is often viewed as one of the most professional and capable branches of the
Republic Of China 's armed forces.
1 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 C4ISR 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.
is the insignia on ROC military aircraft]]
Like 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.
- (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.
- (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)
- (防砲警衛司令部)
- (教育訓練暨準則發展司令部)
- (後勤司令部)
- (作戰聯隊)
- 401st Tactical Fighter Wing (401聯隊): Hualien AFB
- ---17th Fighter Squadron
- ---26th Fighter Squadron
- ---27th Fighter Squadron
- 427th Tactical Fighter Wing (427聯隊): Ching Chuan Kang AFB
- ---7th Fighter Squadron
- ---8th Fighter Squadron
- ---28th Fighter Squadron
- 439th Combined Wing (439聯隊): Pingtung AFB
- ---10th Airlift Squadron
- ---20th Electronic Warfare Squadron
- 443rd Tactical Fighter Wing (443聯隊): Tainan AFB
- ---1st Fighter Squadron
- ---3th Fighter Squadron
- ---9th Fighter Squadron
- 455th Tactical Fighter Wing (455聯隊): Chiayi AFB
- ---14th Fighter Squadron
- ---21th Fighter Squadron
- ---22th Fighter Squadron
- ---23th Fighter Squadron
- 499th Tactical Fighter Wing (499聯隊): Hsinchu AFB
- ---41th Fighter Squadron
- ---42th Fighter Squadron
- ---48th Fighter Squadron
- 737th Fighter Training Wing (737聯隊): Taitung AFB
- (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)
- (空軍官校): Gangshan AFB
''Sources:''
2 3 See Part III, Ch. 7-III: "Air Force"
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 strafing runs on Japanese warships during the
Battle Of Shanghai in 1937 (albeit to disastrous results), and engaged Japanese fighters in air battles over the Wuhan region the same year. 2 ROCAF
B-10 's also dropped propaganda leaflets over the Japanese cities of
Nagasaki and
Saga in 1938.
During
World War II , the ROCAF was augmented by the participation of the American Volunteer Group (the
Flying Tigers ) in 1941. The ROCAF was involved in attacks on Japanese air and ground forces in the Chinese theatre throughout the war.
ROCAF General HQ was established in June 1946. From 1946-1948, during the on
Kinmen the same year.
During the
Cold War , the ROCAF was involved in combat air patrols over the Taiwan Strait and engaged the
PLAAF on several occasions. ROCAF pilots also flew several
U-2 recon overflights of the PRC during this time. In 1979, Taiwan began the development of the F-CK IDF (Indigenous Defense Fighter) aircraft.
s]]
The ROCAF's armament includes over 400 combat aircraft, the mainstay being the F-16 and F-CK IDF's, with the Mirage-2000's being its most formidable defense fighter. The older F-5's are being phased out slowly, but still make up a small component of the total fighter force and some are expected to be upgraded. 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 1990's. Some of the ROCAF's aircraft and weapons are also developed domestically such as the F-CK IDF fighter and the Sky Sword series of missiles.
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-16 s and
Mirage 2000-5 s, and perhaps purchase second-hand
F-15 s. However, the US has already rejected the sale of F-35s or F-15s.
France may also not agree to upgrades, as China is now a large customer for
Airbus and French military contractors.
''Sources:''
4 See Page 112.
5
::
F-16A/B - (146)
::
Mirage 2000-5 - (56)
::
F-CK IDF-1A/B - (128)
::
F-5E/F - (60+)
::
E-2T Hawkeye
::
C-130HE
::
AIDC AT-3
::
T-34
::
C-130H
::
Beechcraft B-1900C
::
Fokker F50
::
B737-800
::
AIM-7
::
AIM-9
::
AIM-120
::
AGM-65
::
AGM-84
::
Sky Sword I (天劍一)
::
Sky Sword II (天劍二)
::
MICA
::
MAGIC II
