Feanor

What does Taiwan have in terms of air defence systems? Does it have any type of integrated AA network?

gunnut

Actually the eastern part is very mountainous. There are huge military cave complexes on the back side of the central mountain range. There's a deep water harbor on the back side as well. Supplies can easily come in. The problem is distributing that said supplies to the rest of the island because the road/rail network on the east side isn't as well developed. At least not for civilian use.

__________________
"Only Nixon can go to China." -- Old Vulcan proverb.

gunnut

Taiwan has Patriot systems. Don't know what version though. There are also domestic system based on the Patriot, with Raytheon's help. There are E-2 Hawkeyes flying AWACS mission. Taiwan's air force flies 50+ Mirage 2000-5s, 140+ F-16A/Bs, and 100+ IDFs (domestic variant of F-16). I think the F-16s have Slammer missiles. IDFs are equiped with domestic variant of Slammer (I think, judging on the shape). Mirages might have French missiles.

Feanor

Do they have any tac-SAMs? SPAAGs? (I mean something beyond stinger missiles) Also are their fighter data linked to the SAMs?

gunnut

Since most of their equipment is US based, they do not have anything between Stingers and Patriots. There are some Chapperals but theose are horribly outdated and inadequate for today's battlefield.

I can't tell you if all their fighters, AWACS, and SAMs are integrated. I suspect they are. The refurbished Kidd class destroyers have indigenous datalink onboard. The same datalink might be used by the army and the air force as well.

Feanor

Hmm. Are there any numbers on how many PAC they have? Or any comprehensive sources on the Taiwan AF and AA forces?

HKDan

I think I remember reading that the Taiwanese currently have three PAC-2 units, all in the greater Taipei area. Im not sure about where the proposed PAC-3s would go, but I do remember that they were planning on buying 6 batteries of PAC-3.

zraver

And upgraded Chappral with the winder 9X would be leathal

Tigeranger

If the catchy slogan could bring 3 corps over the strait, China would reunite TaiWan a long time ago.

Tigeranger

At least 50%of them think otherwise. Some poll suggest it could be as high as 75%.

Tigeranger

Except U.S. Armed Forces. We will kick some PLA asses.

Tigeranger

PAC-2. and in recent parade they have shown a self developed Skybow-3, claim to have the same capability of the PAC-2. Lockeed Martin has tried very hard to sell the PAC-3 system to TW. But the Budget Proposal for the PAC-3 has been defeated several times in TW's Congress.

Taiwan's Skybow-3 missile

Tigeranger

They also have aging Hawk batteries which I think it is in the same condition as the Chapperals. They do have some self developped Skybow-2 and U.S Avenger system

Feanor

So they do have a substantial number of SAMs and SPAAGs. It doesn't seem like the Chinese would be able to take the island in the forseeable future. If they set up a viable AA network, coordinating it with their Navy and AF then the Chinese would never win the skies, effectively preventing any viable landing operation.

gunnut

Hence I said the only thing China can do in the foreseeable future is to lob some missiles and run a naval blockade. The missile campaign will be about as effective as the V-2 hits in London. The blockade will face some major challenges like a couple of US carrier groups escorting convoys. China won't dare to waste the limited numbers of Su-27s and J-10s in a very costly campaign of attrition. Even at a 1 to 1 ratio, China needs to have 300+ front line fighters to wear down Taiwan's air force. And there are still a few more borders that need these fighters.