Taiwan will push for F-35Bs and KC-135
It is official, no matter how illogical the procurement in the face of a massive military threat, Taiwan will request at least three squadrons of F-35B short take-off and vertical-landing (STOVL) fighters and four ageing KC-135 aerial refuelling tankers now being retired by the US Air Force.
Many within the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) see the KC-135 as impractical for combat operations, with China’s improving air defence systems now capable of blanketing the island with both coastal and sea-based air defence systems.
Aerial refuellers would allow Taiwan’s F-16s to extend trainer time and expand patrol missions, but during
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