Page 49 - Australian Defence Magazine March-April 2022

MARCH-APRIL 2022 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
AIRPOWER 49
to antagonise China, with the Trump Administration only approving the potential sale in 2019.
The F-16 is also used in the photo-reconnaissance role with some carrying the Phoenix Eye Long Range Oblique Photog- raphy (LOROP) pod. Designated RF-16, they will in future use the Collins Aerospace MS-110 multi-spectral reconnais- sance pod, having received US approval in October 2020.
The locally developed F-CK-1C/D Ching-kuo is numeri- cally the second most important type in the ROCAF. Devel- oped with assistance from Lockheed-Martin in the 1980s, the aircraft made its first flight in 1989 with production of 130 aircraft completed ten years later.
The Ching-kuo is a twin-engined multirole fighter pow- ered by the Honeywell/ITEC F125 afterburning turbofan engine originally developed by Garrett in conjunction with Volvo, Taiwan’s AIDC, and Italy’s Piaggio from the TFE731 powerplant.
The F-CK-1 also carries a suite of indigenous weapons like the TC-2 air-to-air missile, along with the GD-53 multi-mode pulse-doppler radar based on the GE AN/APG-67 radar for the Northrop F-20 Tigershark and incorporating components from the early F-16’s AN/APG-66 set. An upgrade program for 71 aircraft completed in 2018 saw the introduction of the Wan Chien stand-off missile and increased capacity of the TC-2 from two to four missiles per aircraft. Also upgraded were the mission computer and electronic warfare systems.
Rounding up the ROCAF’s combat force are the Dassault Mirage 2000 and Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II interceptors. Taiwan ordered 60 Mirage 2000-5s around the same time as its original batch of F-16s. The ROCAF would like to upgrade the type but France is reportedly reluctant to agree due to it not wanting to anger China.
LOCKHEED-MARTIN F-35
The Indo-Pacific fighter discussion would not be complete without mentioning the Lockheed-Martin F-35, which has been selected by several allied and partner nations in the region, while several others have expressed interest.
Based on orders, Japan will be the biggest non-US op- erator of the F-35, with plans to eventually acquire 105
BELOW: The Mitsubishi-built F-15J Eagle represents the backbone of Japan’s current fighter fleet and is set to undergo a capability upgrade
Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) F-35As and 42 Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) F-35Bs. These will replace the last Mitsubishi F-4EJ Phantom IIs and some of the older F-15Js in JASDF service.
It will operate its F-35Bs on its two Izumo-class helicop- ter-destroyers (DDH), which are in the process of being converted to operate fixed-wing aircraft. Likewise South Korea plans to operate both the A and the B, being in the process of receiving 40 F-35As and with plans to order F- 35Bs for a planned future aircraft carrier.
Over in Southeast Asia, the land-scarce island state Singa- pore is also getting the F-35B, although the decision to do so is more to do with reducing reliance on long runways for gen- erating air power than a desire to operate them from ships.
Singapore has ordered four F-35Bs although it is almost certain to order more in coming years, as it seeks to replace a fleet of 60 F-16C/D Block 52 and 52+ aircraft that are currently being upgraded.
The F-35 has also attracted interest from the likes of Indonesia, Taiwan and Thailand, although Indonesia has signed a contract with France for six Dassault Rafale fight- ers and plans to buy up to 36 more. The deal was signed in early February during a visit to Jakarta by French Defence Minister Florence Parly.
The US State Department has also cleared the sale of 36 Boeing F-15ID Eagles to Indonesia, equipped with AN/ APG-82 AESA radar and AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Ac- tive Warning Survivability Systems (EPAWSS) and MS- 110 reconnaissance pods with an estimated cost of up to A$19.48 billion.
Indonesia already operates two dozen Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters, most of which are refurbished ex-USAF air- craft. Under its Minimum Essential Force plan, the coun- try requires ten fighter squadrons to defend its more than 17,000 islands. ■
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