Republic of China Air Force

The Republic of China Air Force (Chinese: 中華民國空軍; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó Kōngjūn) is the aviation branch of the armed forces of the Republic of China (Taiwan). The ROCAF's primary mission is the defense of the airspace over and around Taiwan. 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.

In May 2005, the Ministry of National Defense indicated its intention to transfer command of all defensive missile systems to the ROCAF, while future offensive missiles would be placed under a newly formed missile command. As of 2006, all medium and long range SAM units were transferred from ROC Army's Missile Command to ROCAF, while ROCAF's airbase security units were transferred to ROC Army Military Police. But it's revealed in January 2011, 5 years long problems of integrating those long range ex-ROC Army SAM units into ROCAF has forced ROCAF high command decided to return those units back to ROC Army's Missile Command. Missile Command is now directly under Defense Ministry's GHQ control.

In July 2010, former United States Air Force deputy under secretary for international affairs, Bruce Lemkin said that Taiwan's ability to defend its airspace had degraded due to its aging fighters and that the sale of new fighter aircraft to Taiwan was an urgent priority. On 21 September 2011, it was announced that the US had agreed to a US$ 5 billion upgrade to the F-16s. In 2012 Rob Nabors wrote that the United States was considering the sale of fighter aircraft to the ROC.

Aircraft Inventory

Combat Aircraft

• AIDC F-CK-1C Ching Kuo x 200 (Multirole Fighter)
• Dassault Mirage 2000-5EI x 48 (Multirole Fighter)
• General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon x 116 (Multirole Fighter)
• Northrop F-5E Tiger II x 30 (Light Fighter)

ELINT Aircraft

• Beechcraft 1900 x 2 (Reconnaissance/Surveillance Aircraft)
• Grumman E-2K Hawkeye x 6 (AWACS Aircraft)
• Lockheed C-130HE Hercules x 2 (ELINT Aircraft)
• Northrop RF-5E Tiger II x 8 (Recon Aircraft)

Transport Aircraft

• Alenia C-27J Spartan x 8 (Transport Aircraft)
• Boeing 737-800 x 2 (VIP Transport)
• Fokker 50 x 2 (VIP Transport)
• Lockheed C-130H Hercules x 20 (Tactical Transport)

Helicopters

• Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma x 4 (SAR/Utility Helicopter)
• Sikorsky S-70C-1A/M Bluehawk x 14 (SAR/Utility Helicopter)

Trainer Aircraft

• AIDC AT-3 Tzu Chung x 50 (Jet Trainer)
• AIDC F-CK-1D x 56 (Conversion Trainer)
• Beechcraft T-34 Mentor x 38 (Basic Trainer)
• Dassault Mirage 2000-5DI x 10 (Conversion Trainer)
• General Dynamics F-16D Fighting Falcon x 28 (Conversion Trainer)
• Northrop F-5F Tiger II x 26 (Conversion Trainer)

UAVs

• General Atomics MQ-9B SeaGuardian x 4 (UCAV)