Air Force Command Headquarters of MND Press Release Time: August 22nd, 2019 at 11:10 a.m.
Regarding the media coverage of “Buying Blank Fighter Aircrafts Requires Additional Money on Ammunition”, the Air Force Command Headquarters has stated today (22nd) that the new F-16V (BLK70) fighter aircrafts it purchased from the USA have been equipped with primary weapons and equipment, including advanced AESA radar, data link, avionics system, and built-in electronic warfare kits, which are not the so-called “Blanks” wrongfully referred to by the media. The Air Force Command Headquarters pointed out that taking into account the fact that the new F-16V (BLK70) fighter aircrafts it purchased use the same weapons and equipment as the active F-16 fighter aircrafts, which can use the old ammunition, and in order to avoid simultaneously expired ammunition and economize budget, procurement will be implemented subsequently according to enemy threats with annual discussion to respond to the actual needs. This command headquarters hereby requests the support of the public, as this procurement took 17 years to finalize, which can effectively elevate Taiwan’s air defense capability, safeguard the airspace, and maintain the safety of the Taiwan Strait.