F-16 fighter crash brings fresh scrutiny to Taiwans ageing military equipment
Taiwan’s latest military crash involving an upgraded F-16 fighter jet has sparked fresh scrutiny of the readiness of the island’s ageing arsenal amid the sustained high-tempo demands of cross-strait tensions. The episode on Tuesday has sharpened debate over whether upgrades and new armament purchases can realistically keep pace with increasing wear, maintenance constraints and the…
The episode on Tuesday has sharpened debate over whether upgrades and new armament purchases can realistically keep pace with increasing wear, maintenance constraints and the rapid modernisation of mainland China’s forces, according to lawmakers and analysts.
The air force said Hsin reported a malfunction of the aircraft’s modular mission computer (MMC) during the sortie, without specifying which systems were affected.
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People’s Liberation Army holds second day of live-fire exercises around Taiwan
People’s Liberation Army holds second day of live-fire exercises around Taiwan
An air force logistics officer said an internal review showed the aircraft had only experienced routine faults since November, with no reports of major issues involving the MMC or the engine.
It was the second loss of an F-16V since the first squadron entered service in November 2021. A fleet-wide upgrade of 141 jets was completed in 2023.
