Source: World Wide Web
"Super F-16 in place, I'm afraid I'm short of money and people to fly." Regarding the ceremony of taiwan air force F-16V fighter performance improvement and installation ceremony presided over by Tsai Ing-wen, leader of the Taiwan authorities, on November 18, Taiwan's "United News Network" issued an article on this topic on the 19th, saying that there are hidden worries behind the scenery that are difficult to hide.
Screenshot of Taiwan's "United News Network" report
According to Taiwan's "United News Network", the price of the F-16A/B upgrade program is as high as 140 billion yuan (NT$, the same below), the new purchase of F-16C/D is 250 billion yuan, and next year it will be 47.1 billion yuan to purchase various types of precision ammunition, and the cost of building a super F-16 fleet has reached more than 430 billion yuan so far, and it will be increased in the future.
According to the report, there are still two holes in the current lineup, with the corresponding update of the electronic warfare pod after the F-16A/B fleet upgrade; the newly purchased AIM-9X "Sidewinder" missile, which is said to be able to attack enemy aircraft in the rear, but must be equipped with a JHMCS helmet that integrates the targeting system, in order to really play the effect of seeing where to fight.
On 18 November, the Taiwan Air Force held a ceremony at chiayi Base for the installation of taiwan air force F-16V fighters; the F-16V was mounted with an ALQ-184 electronic warfare pod. Reporter Lin Junliang/Photography
According to the report, the price of these two important equipment, after the start of the transformation plan, was reported to have soared, much higher than the original expected figure. The Taiwan military originally planned to use the ALQ-131A electronic warfare pod, but due to the high price, it originally planned to purchase 42 sets, but now it is only enough to purchase 12 sets. The U.S. military later decided to abandon the alq-131A development plan, so that the Taiwanese improved F-16AM/BM fleet had to find another way. A major reason why the U.S. military gave up on continuing to study and revise the ALQ-131A is because the U.S. Air Force's F-16 fleet is almost all late-stage F-16C/D, and there is room in the fuselage to place the electric warfare system, and there is no need to attach a pod under the wing.
The report also said that at the ceremony on the 18th, the JHMCS integrated aiming helmet was unveiled for the first time, and the Taiwan Air Force specially arranged to show it to Tsai Ing-wen. However, the number of this advanced equipment is insufficient, and the problem is more serious than that of the electronic warfare pod. Among the arms sales approved by the Pentagon, including 161 JHMCS helmets, each priced at up to $400,000, is the most expensive personal equipment ever owned by the Taiwan military. The media previously reported that the Taiwan side only intends to purchase 40, and there is even news that the current number of procurement is less than 20.
Tsai Ing-wen boarded the cockpit on November 18 to look at the F-16V pilot helmet, a JHMCS helmet with integrated targeting system for $400,000, and whether it can be fully upgraded has become a challenge. Picture from Taiwan's "United News Network"
Taiwan's "Lianhe Pao" mentioned that the equipment problem can be overcome by money, and the manpower problem is even more difficult to solve. Six new F-16C/D BLK70s were purchased, including 10 two-seater F-16Ds, for a total of 76 cockpit seats across the fleet. Taiwan's defense department reported to Taiwan's "Legislative Yuan" at the end of last year that it was expected to allocate 107 pilots. These aircraft will be assigned to the Seventh Wing of Taitung Chi Aviation Base in the future, but this wing is currently using F-5E/F for training missions, and in terms of physical fitness, willingness, and experience control, most F-5 pilots will fly to Taiwan to build "Yongying" trainer aircraft in the future, rather than staying in the wing to fly F-16.
According to the report, most of the 107 pilots required for the expansion of the F-16 force must come from the existing F-16 unit. Within 5 years, 50% of the new flying officers must be trained, and if they cannot achieve it, they may face the dilemma of no one to fly.
For the Taiwan media worried that "the super F-16 is in place, I am afraid that there is a lack of money and people to fly", some netizens on the island said that the F-16 is "super expensive", more expensive than the F-35; some netizens are sarcastic, "the kickbacks are full of laughter", and Taiwan and the United States are "happy on both sides". ↓
Some people say that this is piled up with the blood and sweat of the Taiwanese people, and the real war is to see a few who dare to sit on it and fly ↓
Some people also say that now when pilots are running on the front line, it is more dangerous than the Army, and whoever does not want to live will fly. ↓
Some people say that no one flies, and the admission qualifications of pilots are repeatedly reduced, no wonder the risk of flying continues to increase, and then it has been stuck in a vicious circle... ↓