Taiwan’s Mirage Fighter Jet Crash: Military Experts Call ​for ‍Urgent⁣ Replacement

Taipei

A​ Taiwan Air Force ⁢Mirage 2000 fighter jet crashed ⁣into ⁤the sea during night flight training on ⁢Tuesday, September 10.​ The wreckage of ⁤the fuselage has not yet been found. Military experts say the Mirage 2000’s engine is ⁢too old and prone to‌ accidents, ​and needs to be replaced urgently.

Taiwan Air ‌Force Official: Mirage Fighter Engine Failed, Cause Still Under Investigation

Inspector General of the Air Force, Yu Dezhong, ⁢said that the pilot, Xie Peixun, reported “engine power cannot be‌ maintained” before parachuting. The ‍reason for the engine failure is still⁣ under investigation,‍ and environmental, mechanical, and ‍personnel factors have not been‍ ruled out.

A preliminary investigation by the Taiwan Air Force⁣ showed that⁣ the crashed fighter jet had 3,371 hours of total flight time, and‍ the engine ⁢had 3,123 hours of total ‍flight time. ⁣The pilot, Captain Xie Peixun, had 795 hours of total flight time, and 509 hours ⁣of Mirage 2000 combat aircraft flight time.

Mirage ⁢2000’s​ Engine Problems ‍and Limited ⁢Upgrades

Taiwan​ purchased 60 Mirage 2000 fighter jets from France in 1992. The M53-P2 ‌engine used ⁣by the Mirage 2000 fighter jets has been ‌discontinued ⁢by⁢ the French manufacturer, making it difficult for Taiwan to obtain spare parts and upgrade the engine.

Former deputy chief of the Taiwan Air ⁢Force, Zhang Yanting, said that the continuous renewal ⁢of the‍ engine has⁢ caused a decline in reliability and safety. He suggested ​that ⁢the Mirage 2000 fighter jets should be replaced‍ with more advanced aircraft.

Mirage ​2000 is at Least Half a Generation Behind

Analysts say that the Mirage 2000 is a fourth-generation aircraft, while⁢ the Chinese‍ Air Force’s J-10C and J-16 are⁣ 4.5th generation aircraft,⁣ and the ⁤J-20 ⁤is a‍ fifth-generation‍ aircraft. The Mirage 2000’s performance cannot be upgraded to ‍match⁢ the Chinese Air Force’s advanced aircraft.

Gao Zhirong, a​ former ⁤Mirage 2000 fighter jet pilot, said that the​ Mirage 2000’s radar detection⁣ range ‍and electronic warfare capabilities are⁣ limited ​compared ​to the Chinese Air Force’s advanced aircraft.

Expert: Replace the Mirage and Turn to the US ‌to Buy New Fighter ​Jets

Zhang ⁤Yanting suggested that Taiwan should buy 4.5th generation F-15EX fighters from⁢ the US to replace the Mirage 2000 fighter jets. He said⁢ that the US government is better able to withstand⁢ China’s pressure, and the ‌F-15EX‍ is a more ‌advanced aircraft.

Taiwan has allocated NT$24.3 billion (about US$800 million)​ in its defense budget this year to ⁤buy additional key parts and ‌accessories for the Mirage 2000 fighter jets, including the⁤ purchase of M53-P2⁢ engines.

Mirage 2000 Fully ⁣Grounded, Taiwan Air Force Special Inspection: Air Defense Will Not be Affected in the Short‍ Term

After ‍the crash,⁢ the Taiwan‍ Air ⁣Force has ordered ‌a special inspection of the⁣ Mirage ⁣2000 aircraft, ‌grounding all Mirage ⁢2000​ fighter jets. Taiwan​ Air Force Chief of Staff‌ Wang Deyang said that the air defense will not be affected ⁣in the short term.

President of⁢ Taiwan, Lai Ching-te, visited ‍the pilot of‌ the Mirage fighter who ⁤had​ crashed and‌ stressed that the safety of the pilots of ‍the ⁣Taiwan Air Force is of utmost importance.