Information supplied and copyrighted
by Joe Baugher
General Dynamics F-16A/B
Fighting Falcon for Taiwan
Last revised March 19,
2000
The Chung Kuo Kung Chuan (Republic of
China Air Force) on Taiwan had been seeking the F-16 for a long time, and a deal had first
been put together during the Reagan administration, but was not finally approved until
1992 under President George Bush. Under the 1992 contract, 120 Lockheed Martin Block 20
F-16As and 30 two-seat f-16Bs were ordered by Taiwan.
Although designated Block 20 F-16A/B,
these planes are actually quite a bit more advanced than their designations might suggest.
They have the AN/APG-66(V)3 radar, a wide angle HUD, an digital TRNS, GPS, a night-vision
goggle compatible cockpit, and a new modular mission computer. However, requests by Taiwan
to purchase the AMRAAM missile have so far been blocked.
Initial deliveries began in April of
1997. By the end of the year, the first F-16s had replaced the F-5Es serving with Nos. 21,
22, and 23 Squadrons of the 4th TFW at Chiayi. The next batch of planes were scheduled to
equip the 8th TFW at Hualien. An RoCAF training unit has been formed at Luke AFB in
Arizona to support this effort. A set of LANTIRN Pathfinder and Sharpshooter navigation
and targeting pods will also be provided, but the customary laser target designators are
not equipped.
Sources:
- Combat Aircraft F-16, Doug Richardson,
Crescent, 1992.
- General Dynamics Aircraft and their
Predecessors, John Wegg, Naval Institute Press, 1990.
- The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and
Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.
- United States Military Aircraft Since
1909, Gordon Swanborough and Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.
- F-16 Fighting Falcon--A Major Review of
the West's Universal Warplane, Robert F. Dorr, World Airpower Journal, Spring 1991.
- The World's Great Interceptor Aircraft,
Gallery, 1989.
- Modern Military Aircraft--F-16 Viper, Lou
Drendel, Squadron/Signal Publications, 1992.
- Lockheed F-16 Variants, Part 1, World
Airpower Journal, Volume 21, Summer 1995.
- Military Aviation Review, World AirPower
Journal, Vol 37, Summer 1999.
- Military Aviation Review, World AirPower
Journal, Vol 33, Summer 1998.
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