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.