U.S. to sell Taiwan spare parts for F-16 fighters and other aircraft

Gastón Dubois

F-16 Taiwan Harpoon Sidewinder

The U.S. State Department authorized the possible sale of spare parts for Taiwan’s F-16 jets, C-130s and ADF fighters for about $428 million.

In order to increase the availability of Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF) aircraft, eroded by the need to intercept PLAAF aircraft constantly approaching the island, Washigton authorized the possible sale of two logistics packages for aircraft of U.S. origin or with U.S. components.

See also: Taiwanese E-2K Hawkeye runway excursion: What we Know

As reported by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), these are two logistics packages. The first is to purchase the extension of the Cooperative Logistics Support Agreement for the supply and restocking of standard spare parts, consumables and accessories, and support for the repair and replacement of the F-16, C-130, Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF), and all other U.S.-origin aircraft and systems or subsystems, as well as other related elements of logistics support. The total estimated cost is $330 million. The second is for «non-standard» equipment, in the amount of $98 million.

See also: Taiwan rushes its future fighter program and relies on KF-21 Boramae design

The two possible sales would be made under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) modality to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representation Office in the United States, which is the body in charge of the official representation of the island state in the U.S., since the U.S. has not yet recognized the Republic of China as an independent state.

Deja un comentario