Republic of China Air Force

From Daily Escape

Republic of China Air Force
Personnel	53,000 (2004 est.)
Combat aircraft	420 (2005 est.)
Early warning	6
Transport	36
Electronic warfare	5
Helicopters	35

The Republic of China Air Force (中華民國空軍; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó Kōngjūn) is the aviation branch of the military of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and is often viewed as one of the most professional and capable branches of the Republic of China's armed forces. The ROCAF's primary mission is the defense of the airspace over and around Taiwan against an attack by the People's Republic of China. Current priorities of the ROCAF include the development of long range reconnaissance and surveillance networks, integrating C4ISTAR systems to increase battle effectiveness, procuring counterstrike weapons, next generation fighters, and hardening airfields and other facilities to survive a surprise attack.

As of May 2005, the Ministry of National Defense has indicated its intention to transfer command of all defensive missile systems to the ROCAF, while future offensive missiles will be placed under an as yet unformed missile command.

Contents 1 Organization 2 Equipment 2.1 Aircraft inventory 2.2 Missile inventory 2.2.1 Air-to-air 2.2.2 Air-to-ground 2.2.3 Anti-ship

Organization

Like most of the other branches of the ROC armed forces, much of the ROCAF's structure and organization is patterned after the United States Air Force. Like the USAF, the ROCAF has a wing → group → squadron structure.

• Air Force General Headquarters (空軍總司令部)

Air Force GHQ is subordinate to the General Staff (military), the Minister of Defense (civilian), and the ROC President.

• Internal Units: Personnel, Combat Readiness & Training, Logistics, Planning, Communications, Electronics & Information, General Affairs, Comptroller, Inspector General, Political Warfare.
• Air Force Combatant Command (作戰司令部)

• Weather Wing (氣象聯隊): Tamsui, Taipei County
• Communications, Air Traffic Control & Information Wing (通信航管資訊聯隊): Taipei City
• Air Tactical Control Wing (戰術管制聯隊)

• Air Defense Artillery & Garrison Command (防砲警衛司令部)
• Education, Training & Doctrine Command (教育訓練暨準則發展司令部)
• Logistics Command (後勤司令部)
• Combat Wings (作戰聯隊)

• 401st Tactical Fighter Wing (聯隊): Hualien AFB flying flying F-16A/B
  • 17th Fighter Squadron "Thor"
  • 26th Fighter Squadron "Witch"
  • 27th Fighter Squadron "Black Dragon"
• 427th Tactical Fighter Wing (聯隊): Ching Chuan Kang AFB flying F-CK IDF-1A/B
  • 7th Fighter Squadron "Wolf"
  • 8th Fighter Squadron "Flying Dragon"
  • 28th Fighter Squadron "Baby Dragon"
• 439th Combined Wing (聯隊): Pingtung AFB flying C-130H,: E-2T, and C-130HE
  • 10th Tactical Airlift Group
    • 101st Airlift Squadron
    • 102st Airlift Squadron
  • 20th Electronic Warfare Group
    • 6th Electronic Warfare Squadron
    • 2nd Early Warning Squadron
• 443rd Tactical Fighter Wing (聯隊): Tainan AFB flying F-CK-1A/B
  • 1st Fighter Squadron
  • 3rd Fighter Squadron
  • 9th Fighter Squadron
• 455th Tactical Fighter Wing (聯隊): Chiayi AFB flying F-16A/B and S-70C
  • Air Rescue Group
  • 21st Fighter Squadron
  • 22nd Fighter Squadron
  • 23rd Fighter Squadron
• 499th Tactical Fighter Wing (聯隊): Hsinchu AFB flying Mirage 2000-5Di/Ei
  • 41st Fighter Squadron "Holy Shield"
  • 42nd Fighter Squadron "Cobra"
  • 48th Fighter Squadron "Holy Eagle"
• 737th Fighter Training Wing (聯隊): Taitung AFB flying F-5E/F
  • 44th Fighter Squadron
  • 45th Fighter Squadron
  • 46th Fighter Squadron

• Air Force Base Command (基地指揮部)

• Sungshan Base Command (松山基地指揮部)
• Taoyuan Base Command (桃園基地指揮部)

• Air Force Academy (空軍官校): Gangshan AFB

Equipment

Aircraft inventory

• 150 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon multirole fighters
• 56 Dassault Mirage 2000-5E1 multirole fighters
• 128 AIDC F-CK-1 IDF-1A/B Ching-kuo light fighters
• 60 Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II fighter-bombers
• 6 E-2T Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning aircraft
• 20 Lockheed C-130 Hercules STOL transport aircraft
  • 19 C-130H tactical transports
  • 1 C-130HE ELINT aircraft
• 36 AIDC AT-3 advanced jet trainers
• 41 T-34 Mentor trainers
• 11 B-1900C VIP transports
• 3 Fokker F50 VIP transports
• 1 B737-800 VIP transport

Missile inventory

Air-to-air

• 600 AIM-7 Sparrow
• 1,082 AIM-9 Sidewinder
• 338 AIM-120 AMRAAM
  • 120 AIM-120C-5
  • 218 AIM-120C-7
• 300 Sky Sword I
• 250 Sky Sword II
• 960 MBDA MICA
• 480 R550 Magic

Air-to-ground

• 775 AGM-65 Maverick
  • 500 AGM-65B
  • 40 AGM-65G
  • 235 AGM-65G2

Anti-ship

• 57 AGM-84 Harpoon

Military of the Republic of China
Army  • Navy  • Air Force
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