CHOPPER ROTATION: The army plans to phase out its Bell UH-1H helicopters by the end of the year, even though there are not enough Black Hawks to replace them
Taipei Times
Date: Jan 22, 2018
By: Lo Tien-pin and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNA
The nation’s second squadron of Apache attack helicopters is likely to enter service
Helicopters from Taiwan’s second squadron of Apache attack helicopters are seen in an undated photograph provided by the Military News Agency. Photo: Courtesy of the Military News Agency
later this year after the first squadron was commissioned last year by the Army Aviation and Special Forces Command, an army officer said yesterday.
After undergoing rigorous testing, the second Apache combat team is expected to be commissioned in the middle of this year, said the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The launch of the first squadron has shown that the Apache helicopters are combat-ready, while the formation of the additional squadron means it has full combat and defense capabilities, he said.
The command’s 601st Brigade has been training personnel and upgrading its equipment since 2013, the command said, adding that after more than two years of training, one of the two Apache squadrons was commissioned in June last year and has since then contributed greatly to improving the army’s combat capability:
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