Evaluation of the combat potential of the armed forces of Taiwan (Republic of China) is one of the most interesting and important topics of any forecast review affecting the military-strategic situation in the Asia-Pacific region, because against the background of the increasingly strengthening anti-Chinese position of the new administration of official Washington, there is an automatic "whipping up" of all without exception, the defense-industrial resources of the US allies to counter Beijing's ambitions in the region. And Taiwan, in turn, is in the "anti-Chinese axis" a link of the main threat to Beijing, both due to the extreme geographical proximity of the borders of the two conflicting states, and due to the appearance in Taipei of completely modern 3-fly anti-ship missiles "Yuzo", which represent a huge danger not only for the commercial and combat surface ships of the Chinese Navy, but also for the strategically important objects of the Middle Kingdom on the coast of Fujian province.
It is known that the minimum distance from the western coast of Taiwan to the coast of the Chinese island of Pingtang (Fujian province) is only 140 km, while the range of Yuzo missiles (depending on the trajectory) can reach 320 km. An early version of this family of missiles - "Hsiung Feng-III" (range 150 km), which is already in serial production, is also capable of hitting targets on the Chinese coast, it has a flight speed of 2700 km / h. Naturally, the air defense of the PRC can use the S-300PS and S-400 anti-ship anti-ship missile systems to repel the blow, but given that the Taiwan Armed Forces will put into service more than 1000 units. such missiles, during a major conflict, a situation may arise that in order to eliminate all Yuzo launchers and simultaneously intercept the Yuzo and HF-3 anti-ship missiles, Beijing will need to attract significant strike resources and missile defense assets only in the Taiwan direction. At this moment, other missile-prone sections of China's borders may be exposed to the enemy. No less interesting is the design of the Khsyung Feng-3 / Yuzo family of missiles: they are very similar to our Kh-31AD and Kh-41 Mosquito, but differ in flat rectangular air intakes for ramjet engines, which significantly reduces their radar signature, as well as large jettisoning accelerators. Obviously, initially, documentation with drawings for the Chinese anti-ship missile YJ-91 (analogous to the X-31A) was delivered to the walls of the Zhunshan National Institute of Science and Technology; features of the supersonic target missile GQM-163A "Coyote", the latter also uses rectangular air intakes.
Over the past decades, Taiwan, like the PRC, has made tremendous strides in developing advanced avionics for missiles and combat aircraft. This became possible thanks to the support of specialists from the American companies "Raytheon" and "Lockheed Martin", which today are participating in a program of deep modernization of 144 Taiwanese F-16A / B to the level of F-16V. The vehicles will receive powerful AN / APG-83 SABR AFAR radars and new on-board electronic warfare systems. And so the time has come to consider an even more ambitious project of the Zhunshan Institute, which could soon bring the Taiwanese defense industry to the level of the South Korean or Japanese.
We are talking about the development of a deeply improved version of the light twin-engine tactical fighter F-CK-1 "Jingguo". In service there are about 127 vehicles of this type, which are part of the 443rd Air Wing of the Taiwan Air Force. They were developed as part of the IDF ("Indigenous Defensive Fighter") project, which owes its appearance to the American embargo on the supply of arms to Taiwan. The embargo was imposed by Washington in the 1980s with the aim of reducing the degree of political tension with the People's Republic of China. Meanwhile, the embargo had no effect on the US-Taiwan military-technical cooperation, and the development of the fighter, carried out by the Taiwanese Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation, followed the path of "crossing" the designs of the light fighter F-5E "Tiger", F-16C and F / A-18C. The program consisted of several separate stages, among which were projects for the creation of an airframe, a power plant, as well as avionics and a weapons control system.
The result was a light multi-role fighter in the JAS-39 "Gripen" weight category (empty vehicle weight is 6500 kg, normal takeoff weight is 9100 kg and maximum takeoff weight is 12,250 kg), the glider of which has sufficiently high aerodynamic qualities due to the developed influx wing root. This makes it possible to maintain flight with large angles of attack, as well as to realize a more or less normal angular rate of turn after reaching speeds of 700-900 km / h, but this maneuverability is achieved only for a very short period of time, since the thrust-to-weight ratio of the F-CK-1 is extremely small for a steady turn in the pitch plane with a high angular velocity. It's all about the insufficient total thrust of 2 turbojet bypass engines "Honeywell F125-70": at "maximum" they give out 5470 kgf, at afterburner - 8380 kgf, this realizes a thrust-to-weight ratio of only 0.92 kgf / kg with a normal takeoff weight and 0, 69 kgf / kg at maximum takeoff weight. Such figures do not even correspond to the 4th generation machines. In other words, there is an unacceptable contrast between the aerodynamic qualities of the airframe and the thrust-to-weight ratio, as well as acceleration characteristics. As a result, the Jingguo's maneuverability, to put it mildly, is “lame” in comparison even with such fighters as the F-16C or F / A-18C / D “Hornet”, and corresponds to the level of the Yak-130 and Aermacchi M- 346. The speed of the fighter also does not shine and is about 1275 km / h (less than that of the B-1B strategic bomber). You can compare the flight performance of the F-CK-1 with the American carrier-based fighter F / A-18C "Hornet" in the video below.
Nevertheless, in view of the fears of official Taipei about a possible military conflict with the PRC, the Taiwanese aerospace monopoly AIDC and the Zhunshan National Institute of Science and Technology are not going to stop there, and plan to replenish the fleet of light tactical fighters "Jingguo" modifications of the F-CK-1A and the two-seat F-CK-1B radically modernized prototype of the "4 ++" generation. On the Taiwanese information resources it is reported that the Zhunshan Institute of Science and Technology plans to develop a new fighter based on the existing Ching-Kuo machines, as well as improve the 127 machines already in service. It is also reported that in the new fighters of the transitional generation, the structural and element base of the 5th generation F-35A fighters will be partially used. It is obvious that the gliders of the advanced F-CK-X will receive radio-absorbing materials and coatings to reduce the RCS; and into a promising computerized fire control system they integrate an all-aspect optoelectronic sighting system with several sensors represented by high-resolution IR matrices (similar to the AN / AAQ-37 distributed aperture OLS of the F-35A fighter). The new Taiwanese fighters will have the ability to detect and long-range support for warm-contrast air targets at ranges from 20-40 km (cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, PRLR) to 100-200 km (fighters and missile-carrying bombers in afterburner mode).
Optical-electronic sighting systems can also be installed on the existing F-CK-1A / B as part of the modernization, but here they will definitely be limited to a single module such as EOTS ("Electro-Optical Targeting System"), or IRST (the first ones are installed on the F-35A, the second - on the Japanese F-15J), since Taiwanese specialists will hardly consider it necessary to "reshape" the entire nose of the Jingguo (including coatings, wiring, etc.) to accommodate a complex infrared aperture of the DAS type.
The new fighters will receive a completely new airborne radar with an active HEADLIGHT of the AN / APG-83 SABR type, and maybe even more advanced. It is known that the F-CK-1A / B, which are in service with the Taiwan Air Force, are today equipped with on-board radars with a slotted antenna array GD-53. The station is a hybrid AN / APG-66 and AN / APG-67 with the power of the emitter and the size of the aperture of the latter. The detection range of a target with an RCS of 3m2 reaches 80 km, a large target of the "bomber" type - 150 km, against the background of the earth's surface these types of targets will be detected at a distance of 50 and 93 km, respectively. Moreover, the GD-53 radar has a similar high-performance processor and element base for converting radar information, which makes it possible to implement a variety of operating modes, including: 2 sub-modes "air-sea" ("Sea-1" and "Sea-2"), several subtypes of air-to-ground mode; and several subtypes of air-to-air mode. Moreover, the old aircraft fleet of Jingguo fighters can also be updated with a new on-board radar. The ease of conversion is explained by the use of the modern digital trunk (bus) data of the MIL-STD-1553B standard on the fighters.
The next task should be to increase the maneuverability, thrust-to-weight ratio and acceleration parameters of a promising fighter based on the F-CK-1A / B. For this, Taiwanese specialists will have 2 ways to select a new power plant with 1, 5 - 2-fold increased maximum and afterburner thrust. The first way will be expedient if a decision is made to preserve the weight and dimensions of the new car within the early F-CK-1. Its essence lies in the fact that it is necessary to select a turbojet engine with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the original engine of the Honeywell F125-70 type (F125-GA-100), which is 914 mm, as well as a length of 2.6 m (these dimensions correspond to engine nacelles fighter "Jingguo"). Upgraded turbojet engines of the next generation F125X and F125XX with an estimated afterburner thrust of 5710 and 7445 kgf are considered as contenders. The power plant of 2 F125X engines will create a total thrust of 11,420 kgf, which will give new fighters based on the F-CK-1A / B a thrust-to-weight ratio of 1.2 kgf / kg at a normal take-off weight. The more powerful twin F-125XX with a thrust of 14890 kgf can bring the thrust-to-weight ratio to 1.45 kgf / kg at normal takeoff weight and to 1.15 kgf / kg at maximum. This principle may well be used to re-equip the F-CK-1 already in service, since an increase in the internal dimensions of the engine nacelles is unlikely to be required.
The second way looks much more logical. It provides for constructive changes in the design of the regular "Jingguo" airframe. First of all, the wingspan and its area, the length of the fuselage, as well as the dimensions of the engine nacelles will be increased. Accordingly, the area of the elevators and stabilizer will be increased; also can be implemented and a two-keel scheme of the vertical tail of the design type F / A-18C / D / E / F. The wing area will be increased from 24 m2 to 37 - 42 m2, while the normal takeoff weight will be kept at the level of 12 - 12.5 tons, which will lead to a decrease in the wing load from 380 to 320 kg / m2: this will have a very positive effect on fuel economy and turn rate in close air combat. More high-torque and large engines will be considered as a power plant, for example, turbofan engines F404-GE-402 (installed on Hornets), or more advanced F404-GE-402 (Super Hornets are equipped with them) with bench thrust 8165 and 10000 kgf, respectively. In addition to high thrust, these engines differ from the standard F125-70 in an even increased service life, as well as in specific thrust reaching 7, 25 and 9 kgf / kg. This series of TRDDF from General Electric is distinguished by its increased compactness and is intended for installation on light and medium fighters: the compressor diameter is 88.9 cm, and the length is 3.912 m.
As noted earlier, the project of a multi-role national fighter of the "4 ++" generation for the Taiwan Air Force provides for a decrease in the radar signature of the product, and here the specialists of the Zhunshan Institute can follow the same path that the creators of the F / A-18E / F "Super Hornet »Back in the early 90s. Instead of oval air intakes (used on the F / A-18C), the F / A-18E / F used rectangular edge planes with a large bevel relative to the normal, this led to a significant decrease in RCS in comparison with the rounded edges of Hornet's oval air intakes. Moreover, their internal cross-sectional area provided a greater air flow for the engines of increased power. A similar technique can be applied to the new F-CK-X, because the F-CK-1 combat aircraft have oval air intakes and air ducts similar to the Hornets. Many structural elements will receive an angular shape, as well as radio-absorbing coatings: as on the F / A-18E / F, on the F-CK-X it is advisable to install elevators with angular edges, such a horizontal tail is used on stealth fighters of the 5th generation. Specialized radial-type radio-absorbing gratings will be installed in the air channels of the engines of new aircraft to reduce the output of electromagnetic waves reflected from the engine compressor blades.
With an increase in the size of the airframe of the new fighter, the total capacity of its fuel system will also increase: from 2200 kg to 3200 - 3600, which will increase the range from 550 to 800 - 1000 km, but this indicator will still not meet the requirements of the 21st century, and therefore will definitely arise the need to install additional conformal fuel with a total capacity of about 650-800 liters. The development company AIDC already has experience in installing conformal fuel tanks on 2 Jingguo fighters of the F-CK-1C / D modification. The single-seat ("C") and two-seat ("D") versions of the fighter were developed and presented by 2007 as part of the IDF-2 pilot project aimed at studying ways to update the F-CK-1A / B aircraft fleet.
The F-CK-1A / B multipurpose fighters have a maximum combat load of 3900 kg, which can be placed on 9 suspension points (6 underwing, 2 at the wingtips and 1 ventral). This is quite enough to accommodate a pair of Hsiung Feng-II / III heavy supersonic anti-ship missiles, 2 GBU-32 JDAM 2,000-pound guided bombs, AIM-120C-7 pair, the same number of Sidewinder and one outboard fuel tank (PTB). But any sharp maneuvers with such an arsenal are strictly contraindicated for the Jingguo, since the structural-power scheme of the airframe allows maneuvering with maximum permissible overloads of up to 6, 5 units. On a promising vehicle, the constructive G-limit should be brought to the standard 9-11 units, and the combat load - up to 6-8 tons (no less than that of the Gripen or Typhoon).
F-CK-X fighters, due to more powerful engines, will have the proper rate of climb within 310 m / s, as well as speeds up to 2000 km / h (the existing F-CK-1 accelerates only up to 1300 km / h and have a climb rate of 254 m / h). with); moreover, representatives of the Taiwanese Air Force expressed a desire for a car capable of flying at supersonic cruising speed. Considering the capabilities of the F414-GE-400 engines, the new versions of the Honeywell F125XX turbojet engine, as well as the minimum mid-section area of the base F-CK-1s, the dream of Taiwanese pilots for cruising supersonic may well be embodied in a new concept. Technically, it is quite possible to realize a speed of 1270-1350 km / h without switching on the afterburner and with a "light" configuration of the "air-to-air" weapon, which was tested on the EF-2000 Typhoon.
The twin-engine power plant of advanced Taiwanese fighters will significantly increase the level of survivability of the combat aircraft fleet as a whole, because about 60% of the country's fighter aircraft today are single-engine multirole F-16A / B fighters, upgraded to the F-16V level. Moreover, the radar signature of the new Jingguo modification, reduced to 1 m2, will create an additional problem of timely detection for the Chinese J-10A and Su-30MKK. After the arrival of the first squadron of new machines based on the F-CK-1, as well as the upgraded Falcons with AFAR, into service with the Taiwan Air Force, China will urgently need to strengthen the Taiwanese direction of the LFI J-10B, as well as the Su-35S supplied to the Celestial Empire at this time. moment. The fact is that after the development and start of a series of a new fighter of the "4 ++" generation, the aircraft fleet of the Taiwan Air Force will outstrip the existing Japanese and South Korean ones, reaching 500-550 fighters.
The last days were marked by the "drawing" of the truly devilish face of the new American regime, and therefore with each new defense program of the US allies in the APR, the tensions around the Chinese borders will bring the entire region closer to a major military confrontation, and Taiwan is a key "player" in it.
