Does Taiwan NEED The M1 Abrams

     From Defense News:

TAIPEI — Debate over the practicality of procuring more main battle tanks (MBTs) for Taiwan has intensified since the Ministry of National Defense confirmed last week it was negotiating with the U.S. for surplus M1A1 Abrams MBTs left over from the Iraq War.

The announcement renewed debate over the need for a heavy MBT, said a Defense Ministry source, “but they are cheap and available now.” The deal would include refurbishment, but not an upgrade, he said. In 2011, Vice Defense Minister Chao Shih-chang was quoted by the local media saying the Army needed 200 new MBTs.

Since the 1996 Taiwan Strait missile crisis, Taiwan has focused on improving air-sea battle capabilities, and the Army has watched its grip on power and influence slip since the end of the Cold War. The Army maintained a large invasion force to retake mainland China during the Cold War.

Local defense analysts argue there are other pragmatic reasons for not procuring bigger and heavier MBTs. The island is composed of rugged interior mountains notorious for landslides. The coasts are either rice paddies, fish farms or are urbanized. Coupled with narrow roadways and anemic bridges, the island seems an unlikely home for a 60-ton tank 12 feet wide.

“The bridge piece of it is a real key, since you only have one shot to get a 60-ton tank across a 35-ton bridge, and then you have no bridge,” a U.S. defense analyst said. The M1A1 limits the choice of routes, but so does the “speed aspect,” he said.

“It is different than planning a route march by M60 [tanks], since the M113 [infantry carriers] cannot keep up with the M1A1s if going 40 mph,” he said. “It is one of those items that causes a revolution in military thought in planning, because you get a capability that is a generation above what you have.”

Also, Taiwan’s MBTs use a locally manufactured 105mm round, not the 120mm round used by the M1A1. Having a standard round for all MBTs is cost-efficient, said a former U.S. military officer who served at the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the de facto U.S. Embassy here.

     These so-called "local defense analysts" make good points about Taiwan's terrain, infrastucture and the M1's main gun. However, terrain while a concern, is not a major factor as the sheer presence of a few M1A1s will give the Chinese a little something extra to think about. As to small bridges, build new bridges. And the idea that the M1 should not be purchased because of it's main gun, is ludicrous. The M1 Abrams was originally designed to shoot the 105mm round, and could be modified to do so again. 
      In other words, yes Taiwan needs the M1 Abrams

Taiwan Wants Used M1 Abrams

     From Defense News:

TAIPEI — Taiwan is considering purchasing tanks used by the U.S. in Iraq and Afghanistan to update its aging fleet, the defense ministry and media said July 23.

Taiwan remains wary of China despite a recent improvement in relations, and military experts say the self-ruled island would deploy tanks in the event of a land invasion by its powerful neighbor.

The M1 Abrams, which entered U.S. service in 1980 and replaced M60s, are a third-generation main battle tank and would bolster Taiwan’s fleet of about 1,200 tanks, mostly M60s and M48s.

Read the rest here.

This is interesting because it comes soon after Red China announced plans to establish a garrison in the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. And this is an extension of the ongoing arms race in the region as most countries with coasts on the South China Sea are gearing up for a war with China over the natural resources in the region. However, Taiwan will probably not get the tanks as the current administration is extremely hostile to them.


Photo Credit: USMC

LockMart & Taiwan Ink Deal To Update Taiwan's F-16s

     From Aviation Week:

Taiwan’s state-owned aerospace company and Lockheed Martin on July 12 said they had signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on upgrades of Taiwan’s 145 F-16 A/B fighter jets once Washington and Taipei finalize the deal.

Today a source familiar with the matter confirmed that the U.S. government and Taiwan signed a letter of acceptance on a $3.7 billion deal to upgrade 145 F-16 fighter jets.

Lockheed officials also confirmed the news, which was announced in Taipei by Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corp., a state-owned aerospace company, although the memorandum was signed at the Farnborough International Airshow on Wednesday.

The memorandum confirmed the AIDC’s “determination to work with Lockheed Martin” to meet the requirements of Taiwan’s Air Force on upgrading its aging F-16A/B fleet.

Under the memorandum, Lockheed will work with the Taiwanese company “on F-16 retrofit modifications, F-16 component parts manufacture and other potential offset projects.”

The memorandum comes when Taiwan and the United States are close to finalizing a deal to upgrade Taiwan’s 145 F-16A/B jet fighters at a cost of up to $5.3 billion.

A letter of acceptance on the larger weapons deal could be signed within weeks, said a source familiar with the matter.

The Obama administration approved the F-16 upgrades for Taiwan last September, upsetting China, but details of the actual government-to-government weapons sale are still being finalized.

Obama administration officials say the upgrade would give the planes essentially the same capabilities as new late-model F-16 C/Ds that Taiwan had sought to deter any attack.

China opposes U.S. arms sales to Taiwan on the grounds that they sabotage Beijing’s plans for reunification. China deems Taiwan a renegade province and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

U.S. lawmakers sympathetic to Taiwan are pushing for Washington sell 66 new F-16s to Taiwan, in addition to the upgrades.

     About time. Though, I do wish Sen. Cornyn would increase the pressure on the Dear Leader to sell those new F-16s to Taiwan.

Photo Credit: USAF  

China Starting "Combat ready" Patrols In South China Sea

    From Aviation Week:

China has begun combat-ready patrols in the waters around a disputed group of islands in the South China Sea, the Defence Ministry said on Thursday, the latest escalation in tensions over the potentially resource-rich area.

Asked about what China would do in response to Vietnamese air patrols over the Spratly Islands, the ministry’s spokesman Geng Yansheng said Beijing would “resolutely oppose any militarily provocative behavior”.

“In order to protect national sovereignty and our security and development interests, the Chinese military has already set up a normal, combat-ready patrol system in seas under our control,” he said.

“The Chinese military’s resolve and will to defend territorial sovereignty and protect our maritime rights and interests is firm and unshakeable,” Geng added, according to a transcript posted on the ministry’s website (www.mod.gov.cn).

     I've posted before about the situation in the South China Sea, but this is the first that has come out about China beginning "combat ready" patrols in the area. One question I have is what does "combat ready" mean?

China has had warships in the South China Sea regularly for decades, so does "combat ready" imply that they will be arming commercial vessels to protect their claims in the area? 

Photo Credit: NavWeaps

China To Build Two More Carriers Starting In 2013

     Focus Taiwan has an article quoting "a Taiwanese security official" claiming that China will begin construction on a second carrier in 2013. 

     There have been rumblings about China building more carriers all over the internet for years now, mainly on forums. However, in 2008 a Japanese newspaper ran an article stating that the Chinese will build 4 more carriers. (see this post for more details).  This is the first time that anyone has claimed that China will begin construction in 2013. 

      As the summer rolls on, it will be interesting to see what developments come from the Chinese aircraft carrier program.

        

U.S. To Deny Taiwan's Request For F-16s

     Defense News reports that U.S. government will probably deny Taiwan's request for 60 new F-16 C/Ds. But, they probably will allow Taiwan's existing F-16 fleet to be upgraded with AESA radar, and several other new features.

     Back in 2006 Taiwan filed a request with the U.S. to purchase 60 new F-16 C/D Block 50/52s, ever since then the State Department  has been denying Taiwan's request because of Chinese pressure. However, while the request for the new F-16s looks like it will be denied, the U.S. will probably allow Taiwan's existing 146 F-16 A/B Block 20s to be upgraded with several new features.

      These features will include a new AESA radar, either Northrop Grumman's Scalable Agile Beam Radar or the Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar to replace the current APG-66(V)3. Lockheed Martin will also add the BRU-57A Twin Stores carrier which will double the number of bombs the F-16s can carry. The upgrade package will also include updates to the F-16s ALQ-184(V)7 ECM pods, and/or offer the newer ALQ-211 Electronic Warfare Suite pod as an alternative. Other upgrades will include the capability to launch the AIM-9X Sidewinder, equip the F-16s to carry the GBU-12 Paveway II laser guided bomb, a helment mounted cueing system, and a digital threat warning reciever.

     Consequences for the U.S. following the offer of the upgrades and/or the new F-16s, China could cause problems for the U.S. economy due to the fact that they hold over 1 trillion dollars of our debt, and would not be happy if the upgrades of the fighters are offered. Also, if the upgrades are offered, and the offer taken, the radar the Taiwanese chose, would probably be the radar the U.S. Air force chooses to replace the old radars on it's F-16 fleet.

     However, most of the above is just speculation as the decision will not be made before October 1st, but it seems likely that at the least the upgrades would be offered to Taiwan, as a sort of consolation prize. While it is unlikely that the new F-16s will be offered, the Obama administration might offer the F-16s as it would create an estimated 16,000 jobs, and the upcoming 2012 election will be all about jobs and the economy.

Photo Credit: USAF

MRAPs For China?

     Recently there have been reports that China is going to be purchasing MRAPs (Mine Resistant Armor Protected), from a South African company named Mobile land Systems.

     Ever since the U.S.-led coalition went into Iraq in 2003, coalition forces encountered many roadside bombs, and the bombs were causing heavy casualties. Thus, there arose a need for a vehicles that could withstand roadside bomb blasts, which led to the development of the MRAP family of vehicles.

     What is strange about China purchasing MRAP type vehicles is that there is no major fighting anywhere in the country. However, China might be purchasing these vehicles because of the fact that the population in western China which is mostly muslim, and might catch the "Arab Spring fever", and revolt. On top of this, Tibet is not exactly happy about the Chinese occupation, and who knows what Tibet might do. 

     As this story progresses it will be interesting to see how many MRAPs China purchases, and what China does with them.

     

      

     

     

Photo Credit: U.S. Navy, Defense Tech

Taiwan Did NOT Fire A SLCM

     Back on Friday I wrote about a missile launch the Taiwanese conducted, where they had launched a cruise missile from a submarine. The day I posted that, a story came up on Defense News stating that the reports had been false, and had come from a newspaper which has ties to a pro-independence political party. 

     The article quoted a former Taiwanese Navy official who used to work with naval ordnance, who stated that Taiwan's Hai Lung-class submarines have "absolutely no capability" for launching anti-ship missiles out of their torpedo tubes.  

Taiwan Fires Homemade Submarine Launched Cruise Missile

     Taiwan late last month launched an unknown number of Submarine Launched Cruise Missiles (SLCMs) in a drill, as Defense News reports.

     The missiles launched were Hsiung Feng II anti-ship missiles (Brave Wind II), and were launched as part of a 5 year project to enhance the capabilities of Taiwan's 2 Hai Lung-class submarines. The Hsiung Feng II has a range of 80 kilometers, a max speed of Mach 0.65 (482 MPH, possibly as high as Mach 0.85 or 630 MPH), and a warhead weighing 180 kilograms (possibly 225kg).

     If the Taiwanese Navy was able to fit cruise missiles into the Hai Lung-class submarines, it would pose no small threat to the Chinese, because diesel-electric submarines are extremely quiet. If this threat is real then it would pose a threat to any Chinese attempts to invade Taiwan, the threat would be especially high for relatively small ships like frigates and possibly destroyers. 

     However, as the photo above shows, the Hai Lung-class is a bit narrow, with a beam of only 8.4 meters. Thus, I would be curious to see how they managed to fit a cruise missile(s) into a submarine that narrow. 

Photo Credit: Republic of China Navy

A Tale Of A Chinese AIM-120D & The J-20's Weapons Bays

     I have speculated previously that the J-20 might be designed for attacking U.S. carriers, but until now there have been no photos showing the J-20's weapons bays. Yesterday China Defense Blog posted some new photos showing the J-20's weapons bays, and a Chinese look-a-like (or copy) of the AIM-120D AMRAAM.

The weapons bay shown in the photo looks like it might be able to hold a anti-ship missile, but due to the angle of the photos it's hard to tell. 

And here are the photos showing the copy of the AIM-120D (possibly designated the PL-15). The missile in question might be a mock up of the missile because the missile appears to be slightly bent.

Photo Credit: China Defense Blog

Grainy Videos Showing Officials Touring The Varyag & The Varyag's Weapons Systems

     Alert 5 spotted these two videos showing a group of officials on the Varyag's deck, and below, a video showing a HQ-10 (FL-3000), a 10 barrel gatling gun, and an unidentified rocket launcher.

Here is the video showing the tour.

And here is the video showing the Varyag's weapons.

If you made the mistake of not turning the sound off for the first video, here is the real song.

Video Credit: Alert 5 & Hans Zimmer

Taiwan Buys 30 AH-64D Apaches

     Flightglobal reports that a U.S. Army official has announced that Taiwan will purchase 30 AH-64D Block III Apache  attack helicopters.
     With China rapidly expanding it's Air Force and Navy, Taiwan in the last few months has been calling on the U.S. to release the promised F-16 C/Ds. However, this is a new development in the Taiwan vs. People's Republic of China, with Taiwan buying state of the art attack helicopters. One possibility why Taiwan is doing this, is that it is a response to the new Chinese Z-10 which is reported to have gone operational. Another possible reason the Taiwanese purchased the Apache is to deter any Chinese landings on the island, as just 4 or 5 Apaches can really hurt, especially against landing craft and amphibious armored vehicles.
     However, in reality these new arrivals will not have much affect on any Chinese plans to take over Taiwan by force, because the first thing the Chinese would do is achieve aerial superiority. Even if the Apaches get off the ground and to the front line, they would be shot down quickly by either Chinese aircraft or surface-to-air missiles, like the HQ-10 which is the Chinese version of the S-300.
     With Taiwan receiving the first of the new Apaches sometime next year, it will be interesting to see how Beijing reacts to this news.


Photo Credit: U.S. Navy
   
   
 

China Admits What The West Already Knew: Yes, We Are Building An Aircraft Carrier

Well, its official, Defense News reports that General Chen Bingde (whom I have discussed before) admitted the existence of the Varyag (now known as the Shi Lang) along with the fact that they are overhauling it.
     Personally, I am surprised that China has not admitted the existence of the Varyag prior to yesterday as almost every defense enthusiast knows of the Varyag's existence and overhaul. I have written quite a bit about the Varyag (I can't bring myself to call it the Shi Lang), covering everything from the Varyag's weapon systems to the J-15.
     With the Chinese finally admitting that the Varyag exists, it's interesting to see that the Chinese military is similar to the Soviet military in that they both are and were extremely secretive.
   
     

China vs. Taiwan Update

Since the Nationalist forces pulled out of mainland China in 1949 the Communist and Nationalist China's have been at each others throats. In the last 15 years this not so friendly rivalry has been intensifying, I have covered some of China's recent actions as seen in "Chengdu J-20: Carrier Killer?", "DF-21D: Is It a Threat?" and "Chinese Naval Aviation Update" with all the coverage going to the "People's" (read communist) Republic of China, I have yet to cover any of the Republic of China's (Taiwan) recent moves.
     In the past few months Taiwan's president Ma Ying-Jeou has urged the U.S. to allow Taiwan to purchase more F-16C/D Block 50/52 Falcons and to allow upgrades to Taiwan's existing F-16A/B Block 20 fleet. President Ma says that these purchases would allow Taiwan to negotiate with the PRC on an equal footing. One of the reasons used to explain the delay in this purchase is that the PRC would retaliate economically if we did so (they hold 1+ trillion dollars of our dept courtesy of the politicians in D.C.). At the same time the Taiwanese have built a homegrown fighter that looks like a cross between an F/A-18 and an F-16.
     Moving on to the world of air defense, the Taiwanese held a drill back in January to test the effectiveness of their I-Hawk surface-to-air missile systems but, 5 out of 19 missiles missed (roughly 25%). Because so many missiles were off target there is speculation that the test will score Taiwan some new American-made surface-to-air missiles, like more MIM-104 Patriot batteries, maybe some MEADS units if and/or when the U.S. reenters the program.
     China in the last 10 years has been rapidly expanding it's navy from a coastal defense fleet to a true blue water navy capable of competing with the U.S. and other countries on the high seas. To answer this threat Taiwan recently fielded the Hsiung Feng III or Brave Wind anti-ship missile on it's warships and, possibly on mobile land launchers as well. The Hsiung Feng III is reported to have a range of 300km, enough to reach mainland China and, a warhead which is rumored to be in the 225kg range. On top of this Taiwan has said that it plans to build a "stealth" warship that will be armed with 8 Hsiung Feng III missiles and 8 Hsiung Feng II missiles. On top of this Taiwan in the last 6 months has added at least 2 frigates and 10 new missile boats to it's naval forces.
     Last, but by no means least is the news that Taiwan has developed an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile capable of reaching Beijing. Taiwan has not said if the IRBM is nuclear capable though it probably is not nuclear capable and more likely is meant as a deterrent to show the PRC that Taiwan can hurt them. 
     With the ROC (Taiwan) and the PRC (mainland China) both rapidly building up their military's it is almost inevitable that in the next 20 years there will be a clash between the two nations. When this war begins it is almost certain the U.S. will pulled into the war and will at some point lose an aircraft carrier and multiple surface ships. In the present situation there is no real solution that will appease both sides, in this situation there is only one path to take if you wish to remain free, deterrence. Taiwan has up to this point denied having any nuclear, biological or chemical weapons while the PRC has all of these weapons in large quantities and the necessary delivery systems for these weapons. Taiwan must either engage in a massive build up of it's conventional forces or begin a clandestine nuclear weapons program similar to the early Israeli nuclear program. Whatever the ROC does it must do quickly because the U.S. is moving farther and farther away from Taiwan and more and more towards the PRC and will soon not support Taiwan as we have in previous decades.   


   
Photo Credit: CIA

DF-21D: Is It A Threat?

Recently there has been a lot of talk about China's new DF-21D Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) and, that it is a threat to US naval forces throughout the Pacific Ocean. However the Chinese have had many problems with high-end technology as evidenced by their lack of a modern AWACS aircraft and the fact that they have had a multitude of problems in developing indigenous weapon systems, without copying another countries systems with no licence 

     The missile system that the DF-21D is based off of is the DF-21, (DF standing for DongFeng). The DF-21 is an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) capable of ranges between 1700-3000 kilometers depending on the variant. The DF-21's NATO designation is CSS-6 with the DF-21's variants having Mod 1-4. The DF-21 series has been in service since the early 1990s but, only now has turned into a real threat.   

     The method in which the Chinese have turned the DF-21D into a threat is through maneuverable reentry vehicles or MARVs. The difference between conventional multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle or MIRVs and MARVs is that a MARV is capable of inflight maneuvers thus, posing a greater challenge to anti-ballistic missile systems like the Aegis BMD system (Ballistic Missile Defense). One of the reasons ASBMs are not usually used by most countries armed forces is that ASBMs are extremly complicated. Imagine firing a model rocket at a moving bullseye 2-3cm wide and a meter long, 350m away and hitting the bullseye. This is probably not the best analogy but, it shows the challenges involed with this type of weapon system. In fact ASBMs are so complicated that the Soviet Union developed a sub fired ASBM designated the SS-NX-13 but, a couple of years later gave up on the system. 

     This is just an observers opinion but, given time the DF-21D could possibly develop into a threat.