Opening of Taiwan F16 fighter repair center Strengthening defense industry 22:47 August 28
As the Taiwanese aircraft manufacturer opens a facility to repair American F16 fighters in Taiwan, and the Chinese are under increasing military pressure, the Cai Ying-wen administration is strengthening the defense industry.
Taiwan's leading aircraft manufacturer, Hanxiang Aviation Industry, located in Taichung, central Taiwan, opened a repair center for the F16 fighter, which is the main military fighter in Taiwan, and held a ceremony on the 28th.
President Tsai Ing-wen attended the ceremony, saying: “Maintenance of fighter aircraft will be significantly shortened, and the proportion of fighter aircraft that can be operated will increase, which will ensure a superiority at the forefront of defense. It is a symbol of our determination to protect our company."
The Taiwanese military operates approximately 140 F16 fighters, but last year, it decided to purchase 66 new aircraft from the United States, and plans to introduce them sequentially from 2023.
The repair center aims to support Taiwanese military maintenance work for the time being, and in the future aim to undertake repairs currently being carried out to the United States and repairs of similar aircraft operated by Asian countries.
In and around Taiwan, China has intensified its military pressure with the increase in the number of Chinese military aircraft flying since the establishment of the Cai administration, and the Cai administration is strengthening its defense industry.