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Republic Of China Air Force (Taiwan)

Latest in Republic Of China Air Force (Taiwan)

China’s latest live-fire drills around Taiwan appear to have prompted the movement of the island’s secretive Hsiung Feng IIE (HF-2E) land-attack cruise missile. While the development of this important weapons is understood to date back at least to the early 2000s, it has only very rarely been seen since then, which makes its public appearance now all the more interesting.
Republic Of China Air Force (Taiwan)

Secretive Taiwanese Land Attack Cruise Missile Seen On The Move

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 31, 2025

TAIWAN - DECEMBER 29: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY - MANDATORY CREDIT - TAIWAN'S MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE/HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) A screen grab from a video shows fighter jet as Taiwanâs Ministry of National Defense said the islandâs armed forces conducted rapid response exercises on Monday in response to aircraft and naval activity by Chinaâs Peopleâs Liberation Army in Taiwan on December 29, 2025. In a statement posted on social media, the ministry said the armed forces closely monitored the situation and carried out joint sea and air operations involving all service branches.The ministry said Taiwanâs Coast Guard also remained on high alert as part of the response. No further details on the scale or duration of the activities were immediately provided. China launched joint military drills Monday around Taiwan in a stern warning against 'Taiwan Independence' separatist forces and external interference, according to state-run media.The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) dispatched fighter jets, bombers and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in coordination with long-range rocket forces to conduct drills code-named 'Justice Mission 2025' in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, southwest, southeast and east of Taiwan Island, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the theater command.
Republic Of China Air Force (Taiwan)

China Launches Snap “Warning” Drills Around Taiwan Simulating A Total Blockade

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 29, 2025

Japan and South Korea scrambled jets to respond to a joint Russian-Chinese bomber patrol.
Republic Of China Air Force (Taiwan)

Joint Chinese-Russian Bomber Patrol Sends Japanese, South Korean Fighters Scrambling

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 9, 2025

Japan's plans to place SAMS on an island near Taiwan has China outraged.
Republic Of China Air Force (Taiwan)

Japan’s Plan To Put SAMs On Strategic Island 70 Miles From Taiwan Could Be Just The Beginning

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 26, 2025

Taiwan is testing a new external electronic countermeasures pod, reportedly due to be integrated on its F-CK-1 Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF). The multirole combat aircraft has undergone a comprehensive upgrade in recent years, but until now has not had anything approaching a comprehensive electronic warfare self-protection capability. This requirement is now even more urgent, as the threat from the China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continues to grow.
Republic Of China Air Force (Taiwan)

Electronic Warfare Pod For Taiwan’s F-CK-1 Fighter Is In Testing

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Aug 14, 2025

The unique RF-5E Tigergazer reconnaissance aircraft operated by the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) has been stood down from service. The retirement of Taiwan’s RF-5Es comes after the country bid farewell to its F-5E Tiger II fighters at the end of 2023, after almost half a century of operations. With high levels of tension between Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China, the ROCAF’s future tactical reconnaissance needs will be handled by drones and pod-equipped F-16 fighters.
Republic Of China Air Force (Taiwan)

Taiwan’s RF-5 Tigergazer Reconnaissance Jets Have Retired

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 7, 2025

A domestically-produced F-CK-1 indigenous defence fighter jet (IDF) takes off during a visit by the island's president and the media from Penghu Air Force Base on Magong island in the Penghu islands on September 22, 2020. (Photo by Sam Yeh / AFP) (Photo by SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images)
Republic Of China Air Force (Taiwan)

Air-Launched Supersonic Anti-Ship Missile Being Tested By Taiwan

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Feb 25, 2025

Taiwan is lining up to become the next customer for the combat-proven National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System or NASAMS air defense system, after the United States approved its sale to the country.
Republic Of China Air Force (Taiwan)

Battle-Proven NASAMS Air Defense Systems Approved For Taiwan

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 30, 2024

A US-made F-16 fighter lands on the run way at the eastern Hualien air force base on January 23, 2013. The Taiwan air force demonstrated their combat skills at the Hualien air base during an annual training before the coming lunar new year.
Republic Of China Air Force (Taiwan)

Multiple Taiwanese F-16s Damaged In Powerful Earthquake

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 3, 2024

A Chinook Helicopter flies over a military camp, as part of a rehearsal for the flyby performance for Taiwan’s Double-Ten National Day Celebration, amid rising tensions between Beijing and Taipei and threats from China, in Taoyuan, Taiwan, 28 September 2021. The 18-meter wide and 12-meter long Taiwan flag, according to state media Central News Agency, will be carried by two CH-47 Chinook helicopters flag flying over the Presidential Office, in addition to a parade displaying the island’s missile systems which will showcase the armed forces' ability to resist threats from China. (Photo by Ceng Shou Yi/NurPhoto)
Republic Of China Air Force (Taiwan)

Taiwanese Pilot Planned CH-47 Defection To China: Reports

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Dec 12, 2023

Originally, the ROCAF also expected to receive 144 F-16Vs, produced as conversions of its existing F-16A/B jets, but this number has since been reduced to 141 through attrition in its existing Viper fleet.
Republic Of China Air Force (Taiwan)

Taiwan’s Final Upgraded F-16V Completes Test Flights

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 6, 2023

A F-5 Fighter takes off during an annual drill at an air base in Taitung City, southeast Taiwan on January 30, 2018. Taiwanese troops staged live-fire exercises January 30 to simulate fending off an attempted invasion, as the island's main threat China steps up pressure on President Tsai Ing-Wen.
Republic Of China Air Force (Taiwan)

Taiwan Is Finally Saying Goodbye To Its F-5 Tiger II Fighters

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 7, 2023

TAIWAN MIRAGE 2000
Republic Of China Air Force (Taiwan)

Taiwan Looks To Upgrade Mirage 2000s To Bridge F-16 Delays

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 1, 2023

Harrier Taiwan
Republic Of China Air Force (Taiwan)

The Time For Taiwan To Adopt Surplus AV-8B Harriers Is Now

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Oct 6, 2022

Chinese military surrounds Taiwan
Republic Of China Air Force (Taiwan)

New Chinese Drills Spark Fears Of Prolonged Squeeze On Taiwan

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 8, 2022

Extremely Rare Photos Inside Taiwan’s Underground Fighter Jet Caves
Republic Of China Air Force (Taiwan)

Extremely Rare Photos Inside Taiwan’s Underground Fighter Jet Caves

By Emma Helfrich

Posted on Jul 27, 2022