Taiwan to commission 12 anti-submarine aircraft next month

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/11/12
By: Lu Hsin-hui and Evelyn Kao 

Taipei, Nov. 12 (CNA) Taiwan will hold a ceremony in December to commission 12 military aircraft acquired from the United States to boost its anti-submarine warfare capabilities, the Air Force said Sunday.

In a statement, the Air Force said it has taken full delivery of the 12 P-3C Orion aircraft, which are equipped with torpedoes and depth bombs designed to sink fast, deep-diving nuclear submarines and high-performance surface ships.

The 12 American-made P-3Cs will replace a fleet of 11 S-2T anti-submarine aircraft that has been in service for more than 40 years, the Air Force said.

The 12 aircraft, along with relevant equipment and services, were procured from the U.S. for US$1.9 billion in 2007, after a six-year delay that stemmed from political infighting in Taiwan.    [FULL  STORY]