The Sky Net system is a tightly knit detection system of overlapping scans from 21 radar bases spread out over Taiwan and neigh- boring islands. Since the network has a range of 500 to 600 kilometers in diameter, it would be very difficult for enemy aircraft trying to cross the Taiwan Strait to escape detection.

The Sky Net system has been completely automated by the air force in recent years. Each base has two or three automated radar systems, which automatically process in formation and transmit it to the Air Defense Center in Taipei. The bases are protected by electronic countermeasure equipment and anti-aircraft guns, and conventional radar systems are on hand to take over in case the automated systems should be destroyed.

The early warning system airplanes we are acquiring have a larger scope of detection than ground-based radar, and they are equipped with the latest electronic equipment so enemy aircraft will be detected no matter how low to the ground they may try to fly.

As soon as signs of hostile activity are detected, the Sky Bow Ⅱ Surface-to-Air Missile Control Center, which mans the first line of defense, will go into action.

The Sky Bow Ⅱ missiles were first deployed in September 1989. They are similar to the U.S. Patriot missiles that received so much attention during the Gulf War, but since they were designed more recently, they make use of even more advanced guidance hardware and software, extending the firing range to 140 kilometers. The Sky Bow missiles will gradually replace the Nike Hercules missiles that remain in service.

The eyes and ears of the Sky Bow are its Chang-bai phase-array air defense radar, which has multiple-beam, multiple-target search and pursuit capabilities with electronic counterdefenses that enable it to direct 24 Sky Bow Ⅱ missiles to carry out intercept functions at one time despite enemy electronic interference.

Communist warplanes will use interference and evasive tactics to try to avoid fire, of course, but their losses from our first line of defense will probably run around five to ten percent.

Even as the Sky Bow Ⅱ missiles are firing, however, interceptor fighters like the IDF, F-104 and F-5E will have taken off to combat enemy planes over the Taiwan Strait.

These light interceptor fighters are our second line of defense. They will attack enemy planes one on one or pair against pair after the planes have broken formation to avoid our missiles and before they have had a chance to regroup.

The F-104 and the F-5E have done laudable service, but they have been around for a long time. Replacement parts are hard to find and their electronic systems are obsolescent, so in the future they will have to be replaced by the IDF.

The IDF, or indigenous defense fighter, is a high-tech electronic warplane. It is a little slower than the Communists' PLA F-8 Ⅱ, but its advanced operating system and greater maneuverability make up for any deficiencies in speed.

The IDF is armed with Sky Sword Ⅰand Sky Sword Ⅱ air-missiles, and 20 millimeter howitzer. The Sky Sword Ⅰ, which is similar to the U.S. Sidewinder missile, and the Sky Sword Ⅱ, which is similar to the Sparrow, are outfitted with heat-seeking and automatic radar search equipment. In the conflict of August 1958, our F-86 fighters used Sidewinder missiles to shoot down 14 MiG 17s.

Our advanced operating systems, strong firepower and expert, highly trained pilots, who will be fighting in airspace they are thoroughly familiar with, should reduce enemy aircraft by another five to ten percent.

Enemy planes that can still proceed to their targets after passing through these two lines of defense will encounter a third line of defense, out Sky Bow I missiles.

The Sky Bow I, which was successfully researched and developed by the domestic defense industry, replaces the earlier Hawk missile. It has four warheads, lock-on radar and high-speed, precision microcomputer control for rapid launching and interception.

The Sky Bow Ⅱ is similar, also possessing multiple warheads with simultaneous firing, multiple target pursuit and electronic counter-interference capabilities. At this stage, enemy attack forces will probably be reduced another five to ten percent.

The final line of defense is 35 antiaircraft guns deployed around Taiwan and the surrounding islands. Thanks to their large number, inexpensive cost and rapid fire coordinated in a computer-designed firing network, they pose toward a deadly threat to any approaching enemy warplanes, which will be reduced another five to ten percent.

Taiwan's airspace is so small that only 200 aircraft can attack the island at any one time. Each attack force will lose about one fourth its strength in the four lines of defense--missiles, fighters, missiles again and artillery--and when the planes try to fly back they will be attacked again by our lowlevel and high-level missiles and IDF fighters.

Given losses of that magnitude and assuming four attacks per day, the 1,400 enemy aircraft along the coast will be reduced to 1,000 in two and a half days. And according to past experience in the Falklands and Arab-Israeli wars, when an air force loses one fourth of its planes it will probably call it quits.

Of course, the defense and response capabilities discussed above are based on completely normal operations for our command, telecommunications and intelligence systems. And if combat really did break out, the enemy would try to jam our air defense systems electronically.

According to media reports, the United States used a lot of electronic interference tactics in the Gulf War, jamming the Iraqi communications and intelligence systems so that commanders were unable to give correct battle orders to their troops.

In the future, we should bolster research into counter-interference systems. Fortunately, the development of electronic technology here is advancing by the day. The strength of our electronics industry is a major help to our air defenses.

[Picture Caption]

Outstanding flying skills are decisive in overcoming the enemy. (photo courtesy of Thuader Tigers aerobatic team)

An enemy air raid would give Taiwan only 8 minutes' warning, so pilots and fighters must be in a state of readiness round the clock, prepared to scramble at any moment.

Outstanding flying skills are decisive in overcoming the enemy. （photo courtesy of Thuader Tigers aerobatic team）

Outstanding flying skills depend upon routine peacetime training. In addition to actual airborne training exercises, instructors' briefings and analyses are vital too.

Coordination comes from pilots putting their heads together as soon as they touch down and discussing what has just happened and what tactics they used to react to it.

Each squadron's logo is a symbol of its spiritual aspirations.

The Air Force Academy is the cradle of Taiwan's fighter pilots. Shown here are students limbering up by learning fencing. （photo from Sinorama files）