Taiwanese F-16s Begin Flying Patrols With Live Harpoon Anti-Ship Missiles To Deter China
The armed anti-ship patrols began amid concerns over expected Chinese island-grabbing exercises in the South China Sea.
By Jamie HunterAugust 6, 2020
The War Zone
Two Taiwanese F-16A Vipers have flown air patrol missions armed with live AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Taiwan’s Liberty Times said the missions were launched amid fears of imminent Chinese military exercises that are expected to be designed to simulate capture of the Taiwan-administered Dongsha Islands, in the northern area of the South China Sea.
The Taiwanese Air Force, also known as the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF), launched two F-16s from the 5th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) based at Hualien Air Force Base, both of which carried a pair of the anti-ship missiles. Aviation reporter Roy Choo, who goes by the Twitter handle of @RXRoy, posted the Viper photos and provided brief details of the mission. “The 5th TFW F-16s at Hualien are usually tasked with anti-shipping missions with the Harpoons while the F-16s from the 4th TFW at Chiayi Air Force Base are usually seen employing AGM-65 Maverick missiles for anti-surface roles,†Choo told The War Zone.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/35458/taiwans-f-16s-begin-flying-patrols-with-live-harpoon-anti-ship-missiles-to-deter-china
