Taiwan Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

supersnoop

Major
Registered Member
I've done some googling and this picture from the article appears to be a photoshopped image from Stavatti aerospace. I do suspect that the final aircraft might look similar due to the stealthy design and engine, but maybe it could be twin engined for better performance.

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Just a few things to note:
1. Taiwan news is a highly unreliable news source
2. The source of that image is not MOD, so it looks like the newspaper’s own amateurish illustration
2. Keoni Everington is a moron. He is obsessed with pushing the pretty discredited lab leak theory
 

druid198405

New Member
Registered Member
Just a few things to note:
1. Taiwan news is a highly unreliable news source
2. The source of that image is not MOD, so it looks like the newspaper’s own amateurish illustration
2. Keoni Everington is a moron. He is obsessed with pushing the pretty discredited lab leak theory
Completely agree on all of those points. Taiwan is working on a fighter, presumably one with some stealth, and using the f125xx makes sense, at least for keeping costs low. Keoni Everington just copies and pastes his articles.
 

Deino

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
I've done some googling and this picture from the article appears to be a photoshopped image from Stavatti aerospace. I do suspect that the final aircraft might look similar due to the stealthy design and engine, but maybe it could be twin engined for better performance.

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I'm quite sure this image of a Stavatti what-if fighter concept was only used by that news-agency. The question however remains: Will it be a new type or again only a development of the Ching Kuo?
 

Skywatcher

Captain
I'm quite sure this image of a Stavatti what-if fighter concept was only used by that news-agency. The question however remains: Will it be a new type or again only a development of the Ching Kuo?
They might as well stick with the Ching Kuo and evolve it, similar to how the Gripen was upgraded.

Twin 73kN engines will only get you a ridiculously small internal weapons bay (honestly, they'd be lucky to fit three missiles in) if they'd dumb enough to go down the 5th generation route.
 

silentlurker

Junior Member
Registered Member
They might as well stick with the Ching Kuo and evolve it, similar to how the Gripen was upgraded.

Twin 73kN engines will only get you a ridiculously small internal weapons bay (honestly, they'd be lucky to fit three missiles in) if they'd dumb enough to go down the 5th generation route.
Given they aren't going to fund it very well (according to the article at least), I agree internal bay is very unlikely. If they don't even want to spend as much money as SK, a reduced-signature 4/4.5 gen is probably the best the can hope for.
 

Mr T

Senior Member
I'm quite sure this image of a Stavatti what-if fighter concept was only used by that news-agency. The question however remains: Will it be a new type or again only a development of the Ching Kuo?
My first reaction is like Skywatcher that it would seek to improve on the IDF rather than use a completely new design. But that's purely on the report that not that much money is currently being devoted to it.

Over the next several years we will no doubt learn more including whether a larger budget is being made available. The article leaves open the possibility for that due to the reported comments from the MND that it would support the project.
 

Skywatcher

Captain
My first reaction is like Skywatcher that it would seek to improve on the IDF rather than use a completely new design. But that's purely on the report that not that much money is currently being devoted to it.

Over the next several years we will no doubt learn more including whether a larger budget is being made available. The article leaves open the possibility for that due to the reported comments from the MND that it would support the project.
The F125XX engines impose limitations on the MTOW weight, which at 73kN, won't be more than 15-17 tons tops (unless the ROCAF is willing to accept a very, very, veryy sluggish aircraft. While fighter agility isn't as a big a deal as it was 50-70 years ago, it's still pretty important).

However, a fifth generation fighter would have a MTOW of at least 25 tons, due to the requirements of RCS reduction shaping, and large internal volume required for a significant weapons bay (unless they decided to reduce it to a maximum three internal BVRAAM, but at that point you might as well not bother building a fighter at all).
 

voyager1

Captain
Registered Member
Breaking!
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Taiwan is seeking to acquire long-range, air-launched cruise missiles from the United States, a defence official said on Monday, as the Chinese-claimed island bolsters its forces in the face of increasing pressure from Beijing.
Asked in parliament which weapons systems Taiwan wants to buy but the United States has not yet said it can, Lee Shih-chiang, head of Taiwan's defence ministry's strategic planning department, named Lockheed Martin Corp's (LMT.N) AGM-158.
Will the US agree? IMO big escalation if it does
 

weig2000

Captain
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Will the US agree? IMO big escalation if it does

Great. It would be a huge escalation if the US sells it. Beijing will seize the opportunity.

Warn the US privately that mainland China would conduct surgical strikes against the missile sites or other related facilities in Taiwan. Announce to the world that China would conduct preventive military operations against Taiwan if the US or any countries proceed to do so.

If they do, PRC would take the opportunity to destroy some strategic military sites, back up with a full invasion should Taiwan strike back against targets in mainland.

That's how I envision how the process would be unfolded, although I doubt the US would go so far. It's too provocative.
 
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supersnoop

Major
Registered Member
Given they aren't going to fund it very well (according to the article at least), I agree internal bay is very unlikely. If they don't even want to spend as much money as SK, a reduced-signature 4/4.5 gen is probably the best the can hope for.
I'm not sure they really need more than that.
Unless they believe deep-strike is the best form of defense, they just need something with newer AESA radar, IRST, and ability to launch home made AAMs.
US has never allowed ROCAF to integrate TC series AAMs to F-16 which means there are a maximum of 2 AMRAAMs per all flyable F-16s. That is a joke. Why only Israel is allowed this special privilege?
Sometimes I think US is simply extorting TW.
 
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