US Denies Taiwan Sale of Helicopters and E-2D Hawkeye AEW Aircraft
The United States has declined to provide Taiwan with MH-60R SEAHAWK helicopters and E-2D all-weather tactical airborne early warning aircraft.
The Upmedia publication reported on this.
During a visit to the U.S., Taiwan’s Deputy Minister of National Defense, Bai Honghui, presented a list of defense equipment Taiwan needs to American officials, as part of ongoing U.S. pressure to increase defense spending.
Despite the increase in defense spending, the deputy minister received a refusal regarding the potential sale of certain types of weapons from the list to Taiwan.
According to the publication, the U.S. side stated that some of the weapons did not align with the concept of asymmetric combat forces, and therefore, the U.S. would not support Taiwan in acquiring those weapons and equipment.
Currently, Taiwan operates a rather worn-out fleet of the E-2K aircraft, which have been in service with the Air Force since 1995.
Additionally, two aircraft were ordered in 1999, bringing their total number to six. In 2013, these aircraft underwent an upgrade to E-2K, which slightly extended their service life.
Despite the upgrades, these aircraft are facing increasing technical difficulties, including issues with airframes, electronic systems, and a shortage of spare parts.
It is worth noting that between 2018 and 2020, the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China considered the possibility of purchasing new radar surveillance aircraft. However, due to financial difficulties, these plans were postponed, as the existing radar systems were considered sufficient at the time.
Previously, it was expected that if a decision had been made in 2025, an official request for procurement could’ve been submitted in 2026, with the first aircraft delivery planned between 2031 and 2032. However, due to the U.S. government’s refusal, these plans are no longer relevant.
As for anti-submarine helicopters, Taiwan currently operates S-70C(M) helicopters, which require modernization and an enhancement of their combat capabilities due to the increasing threat from Chinese submarines.
Militarnyi previously reported that Taiwan planned to deploy a new air defense battalion equipped with several new Patriot PAC-3 systems.
The Taiwanese Air Force plans to form a fourth air defense battalion, expecting the delivery of new Patriot anti-aircraft systems during 2025-2026.
