With the arrival of the first American-made F-16s and French Mirage 2000s, plus the establishment of the first squadron equipped with the locally produced Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF), the first steps have been taken to implement the plan for a second generation of fighter aircraft for Taiwan's air force. However, advanced equipment needs the right conditions to maximize its military effectiveness.

The second-generation fighter replacement program is progressing smoothly. The first squadron equipped with the "Ching-kuo" IDF was established on April 15. The first F-16s (one each of the one-seat and two-seat models) purchased from the US flew directly to Taiwan, arriving at the Chiayi Shuishang airfield on the 14th; the remaining 148 will come to Taiwan at the rate of four or five per month. Meanwhile, the first group of Mirage 2000-5 fighters ordered from France will arrive in mid-May.

The military says that when the program is completed in the year 2000, Taiwan will have 130 IDFs, 150 F-16 A/B MLU types, and 60 Mirage 2000-5s.

In terms of firepower, the IDF carries the TC-2 air-to-air missile, developed by Taiwan's Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology. The F-16 is equipped with Rattlesnake and Sparrow air-to-air missiles, while the Mirages will carry Magic-2 short-range missiles and MICA medium-range missiles.

In any future conflict, the Mirages will be responsible for high-altitude interception, while IDFs and F-16s will work together on mid- and low-altitude air superiority missions. US-made E-2T early warning aircraft, with advanced electronic warfare capability, will provide radar coverage. Taiwan's second generation of fighters constitutes the full array of necessary war-fighting capabilities.

On the other side, Beijing is carefully watching military developments in Taiwan. The April 21 issue of Newsweek quotes a US National Security Council analysis as saying that military developments in the PRC are focused on the ability to attack Taiwan and also to cope with US naval power. According to the PRC's Xinhua News Agency, the PRC plans to develop a high-tech early warning system and also air-to-surface missiles to strengthen its air force's combat capability.

Recently the PRC and Russia finalized a deal involving six warships, and agreed to active exchanges of military personnel, with priority going to air force personnel.

However, says Yang Chih-heng, a researcher at Taiwan's National Policy Research Center, one cannot determine military superiority in the arms race between the two sides just by how new their aircraft types are. "The greatest test is combat efficiency."

According to an assessment of PRC air power by the Rand Corporation, a US think tank, the PRC is very inefficient in support and logistics, a crippling defect for their air force. Furthermore, PRC pilots get only about 100 hours in the air per year, which is not enough.

In Taiwan, except for the IDF, Taiwan will rely on the US and France for spare parts and replacements. With Taiwan's air force set to become the first or second largest in Asia, outside observers estimate that over the next 20 years, Taiwan will spend NT$100 billion on maintenance, a figure attracting the attention of foreign companies.

Last year, the Executive Yuan decided to allow commercial companies to handle fighter maintenance. Foreign firms will be allowed to work with local firms, with the ultimate goal being to make Taiwan an "Asia-Pacific military aircraft maintenance center." However, private maintenance of military aircraft is a brand new experience for Taiwan's armed forces. As yet no private companies are up to the task, so thus far not a single contract has been signed for any item.

The quantity and quality of pilots is another major concern for the success of the aircraft replacement plan. In recent years the military academy has not recruited enough cadets, and there may not be enough pilots to replace the current generation. There have been a series of recent accidents: An E-2T was severely damaged when the undercarriage was not lowered for a landing; it is expected to cost nearly US$10 million to repair. Two warships collided during maneuvers; the tab will be NT$2.6 million. And the Army's 333rd division reported losing hand grenades. These incidents suggest military training needs to be improved.

To upgrade the quality of pilots, the Air Force has already selected qualified personnel to send to the US for training. The first squadron of F-16s will come on line at the end of the year.

Recently, in security treaty talks between the US and Japan, the idea was mooted to include Taiwan and the South China Sea in the scope of the security treaty. If this idea is adopted, this would be of great benefit to the defense of Taiwan. But we cannot rely on outside help. As Minister of Defense Chiang Chung-ling noted, "We must build up our military in the hopes that we will not have to go to war." That is, the ideal is to deter the PRC threat and avoid war. After the second generation of equipment is in place, the nation's military will still continue to strengthen itself.

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After 16 years of R&D, the first squadron of Taiwan's domestically made high-performance fighter was established. The photo shows Minister of Defense Chiang Chung-ling reviewing the new unit at the Chingchuankang Air Force Base in Taichung. (photo by Diago Chiu)