The US State Department has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to Taiwan of infrared search and track systems (IRSTs) for its F-16 fighters, the US Defense Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) announced on 23 August 2023.
The sale, which is estimated to be worth USD 500 M (EUR 463.5 M), has been passed to Congress for approval.
Taiwan has been upgrading 141 of the Republic of China Air Force’s (ROKAF’s) F-16A/Bs to the F-16V standard and has ordered 66 new F-16Vs.
As well as an advanced Northrop Grumman APG-83 active electronically scanned-array radar, the F-16V features Lockheed Martin’s Legion-ES IRST system. This is a fully integrated system that provides “critical technology to detect and track airborne threats with weapon-quality accuracy, increasing pilot reaction time and enhancing warfighter survivability”, according to Lockheed Martin.
As usual, the DSCA notification stated, “The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.” However, altering the military balance between Taiwan and China in Taipei’s favour, in order to discourage China from trying to take Taiwan by force, is precisely what this sale is intended to do.
Peter Felstead
