The Chinese air force is keeping up the pressure on Taiwan with frequent intrusions into the country’s Air Defense Identification Zone. The 4th Tactical Fighter Wing. stationed in Chiayi. is currently undergoing a three-day-long drill aimed at improving its combat readiness.
Pilots scramble to get to their jets and lift off within six minutes of the alarm bell going off.
A three-day Spring Festival combat readiness exercise started on Wednesday. F-16V pilots are practicing quick takeoffs for a reason. On Tuesday alone, the Chinese air force sent five sorties into the southwestern part of Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone.
Yen Hsiang-sheng, serving at the Chiayi air base, says that he has intercepted Chinese J-16 fighter jets in the past. Each new encounter is scrutinized during the post-mission debriefing to improve future performance.
The Chiayi air base is part of Taiwan’s first line of defense, and all F-16 fighter jets stationed there have been upgraded to the latest V variant. Pilots have also been issued helmets equipped with integrated head-up displays. Each one of those helmets costs NT$12 million (US$430,000).
Pilots can see crucial flight data right in front of their eyes, as they are projected on a helmet-mounted display, further integrating the pilot and the machine.
F-16Vs have also demonstrated a taxiing maneuver called the elephant walk, during which planes follow each other closely, tail-to-nose, resembling elephants on their way to a water source.
During the exercise, the pilots show off not only their skill and discipline, but also their dedication to defending Taiwan’s air space against intrusions.