Every year, Taiwan’s military organizes an open day at CCK Air Force Base in Taichung to showcase the inventory of the air force and ground forces. Following photos were taken on July 19, 2014.
This was one of the first opportunities for public to see the newly acquired AH-64E Apache Guardian, making Taiwan the first foreign operator of the most advanced version of these iconic attack helicopters. From the ground forces inventory, two domestically developed platforms deserve attention: multiple rocket launcher system (MLRS) Thunderbolt-2000 and CM-32 Cloud Leopard armored personal carrier/infantry fighting vehicle (APC/IFV). The former with mission to attack enemy forces attempting amphibious landing, the latter ensuring troop mobility. Taiwan’s most powerful main battle tank, the M60A3 TTS, was also on display. Although M60A3 TTS is not as dashing as more advanced MBTs such as M1 Abrams, Leclerc, or Leopard 2, it is still formidable weapon and the upgrades are keeping it fairly competitive (besides being much more economic).
Air force was naturally well represented on one of its major air bases, including all types of fighter jets: F-16A/B Fighting Falcon, F-CK-1C/D IDF, Mirage-2000EI/DI, and F-5E/F Tiger II.
Navy was represented by S-70 helicopter and S-2T maritime patrol plane.
AH-64E Apache Guardian (USA)
Thunderbolt-2000 MLRS (Taiwan)
M48H/CM-11 (USA/Taiwan) & CM-32 Cloud Leopard (Taiwan)
AIDC F-CK-1 IDF (Taiwan)
See also:
- Taiwan’s Military Flexes its Muscles, Photo Essay from Han Kuang 29 annual exercise by J. Michael Cole (The Diplomat)
- Flickr Account of Youth Daily (青年日報), magazine published by the military, has great collection of photos.
Full Gallery
All photos by Michal Thim, re-use possible under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.
- AH-64E Apache Guardian, Taiwan is the first foreign user of these advanced attack helicopters
- Detail of a launcher with AGM-114
- AH-64E (rear view)
- AH-1W Super Cobra is the second type of attack helicopter. Ground forces operate total of 61 Cobras
- Detail of a launcher with BGM-71 TOW anti-tank guided missile
- AH-1W (rear view)
- F-16A Fighting Falcon
- F-16A (front view), ROCAF currently operates 116 F-16A and 28 F-16B.
- Taiwan’s F-16 will undergo substantial upgrade, including installation of advanced AESA radar.
- F-16B Fighting Falcon
- French-built Mirage-2000EI
- Twin-seater Mirage-2000DI, In 1992 Taiwan acquired total of 60 Mirage-2000EI/DI, Image Credit: CC by michal_thim/Flickr.
- Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) F-CK-1C
- All fleet of F-CK-1s underwent mid-life upgrade in recent years.
- F-CK-1D
- Cold War-era F-5F Tiger II
- Navy was represented by S-70C(M)-2 Thunderhawk that fulfills ASW and SAR missions
- Another representative of the Navy: S-2T Turbo Tracker maritime patrol/ASW aircract
- Detail of S-2T
- OH-58D Kiowa Warrior
- Early warning and control aircraft E-2K Hawkeye 2000
- E-2K (rear view)
- C-130H Hercules transport plane
- AIDC AT-3 trainer plane
- M60A3 TTS main battle tank
- M60A3 TTS (front view)
- Thunderbolt-2000 MLRS, another example of prowess of Taiwan’s indigenous arms industry
- Self-reloading crane
- Made-in-Taiwan: CM-32 Cloud Leopard
- Detail of CM-32’s camo and turret
- CM-21, licensed production of US M113 APC
- Humvee Avenger short-range air-defense system equipped with 8 FIM-92 Stinger missiles