Taiwanese F-16s HAve Begun Flying Patrols With Live Harpoon Anti-Ship Missiles

Ahead of a potential PLA island-seizing exercise, purportedly representative of the Pratas Islands, the ROCAF launched two 5th TFW F-16As on CAP this morning, both fitted out with air-launched AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Photos: LTN / Yu Tailang pic.twitter.com/iyfMWYXedJ

— Roy Choo (@RXRoy) August 6, 2020

Warzone/The Drive: Taiwanese F-16s Begin Flying Patrols With Live Harpoon Anti-Ship Missiles To Deter China

The armed anti-ship patrols began amid concerns over expected Chinese island-grabbing exercises in the South China Sea.

Two Taiwanese F-16A Vipers have flown air patrol missions armed with live AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Taiwan’s Liberty Times said the missions were launched amid fears of imminent Chinese military exercises that are expected to be designed to simulate capture of the Taiwan-administered Dongsha Islands, in the northern area of the South China Sea.

The Taiwanese Air Force, also known as the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF), launched two F-16s from the 5th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) based at Hualien Air Force Base, both of which carried a pair of the anti-ship missiles. Aviation reporter Roy Choo, who goes by the Twitter handle of @RXRoy, posted the Viper photos and provided brief details of the mission. “The 5th TFW F-16s at Hualien are usually tasked with anti-shipping missions with the Harpoons while the F-16s from the 4th TFW at Chiayi Air Force Base are usually seen employing AGM-65 Maverick missiles for anti-surface roles,” Choo told The War Zone.

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