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World Aviation Defense & Security News - Taiwan
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Taiwan to start F-16 fleet upgrade program in early 2017
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According to the China Post, the upgrade program of Taiwan's fleet of F-16 fighter planes will begin in early 2017, shortly after the completion of a hangar that is being built for that purpose, according to the Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC).
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 ROCAF's F-16A and F-16B fighter aircraft(Credit: ROCAF) |
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Upon completion next January, Taiwan's biggest fighter jet maintenance facility will have the capacity to handle the upgrade of 24 aircraft per year in the country's F-16A/B fleet, AIDC Chairman Anson Liao said.
Under a special Air Force project, Taiwan will spend US$3.39 billion to upgrade 142 fighters in its F-16A/B fleet, while the first two planes that were purchased will be sent to the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin in the United States, for upgrade. The fleet upgrade will include the installation of an AN/APG -83 radar system, helmet sighting system and the AIM-9X Sidewinder missile to improve the aircraft's combat capacity. The F-16A/B upgrade project is scheduled to be completed in 2022. |
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