Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC
The US Government is re-viewing a request from Taiwan for purchase of a comprehensive package of weapons including up to 70 Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters and eight to 12 Lockheed Martin P-3C Orions. Approval of the deal would represent a significant relaxation by the Bush Administration of restrictions on weapon sales to the breakaway Chinese island.
The proposed sale of Aegis guided missile warships to Taiwan, has already drawn strong protests from Beijing. Taiwan is understood to have also requested Lockheed Martin Patriot Advanced Cap-ability-3 (PAC-3) anti-missile system, Apache helicopters andP-3s. An order from Taiwan would jump start new production of the maritime patrol aircraft.
The Patriot request follows US reconnaissance satellite evidence that China has deployed two brigades of CSS-7 Mod 2 (DF-11 or M-11) short-range ballistic missiles near Taiwan, at Xianyou and Yong'an in Fujian province. A brigade could have up to 16 launch vehicles and up to 96 missiles stored in underground structures. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council reckons that 800 Chinese missiles will be aimed at Taiwan by 2005.
Washington is due to make a decision on 24 April on which weapons to supply to Taipei. The US Government has traditionally tried to balance between providing for Taiwan's defence and relations with mainland China. The new package, if approved, would represent the most significant sale since the George Bush Snr administration sold Taiwan 150 F-16s in 1992.
Taiwan first requested Apaches 10 years ago, but was sold 62 Bell Helicopter Textron AH-1W Cobras. According to Taiwanese defence sources, the army now wants to supplement the AH-1s with AH-64Ds equipped with Longbow radar and Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, which are available in anti-tank and anti-ship versions.
The Taiwanese navy urgently needs a Grumman S-2T Tracker replacement and has requested P-3s unsuccessfully on a number of occasions. Washington, however, is expected to shift its military focus from Europe to Asia Pacific as part of an on-going defence review. As a result, the new Republican administration will look more favourably on the sale of Orions, Apaches and Aegis warships.
Production of the P-3 has been suspended since delivery of the final South Korean P-3C in 1995. But tooling has been preserved and the supplier base is largely intact for manufacturing to economically restart with an order for eight aircraft.
Source: Flight International
