France-based Dassault Aviation has officially announced that the Taiwan Air Force intends to replace its fleet of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets with Rafale fighter jets, a more modern platform. Taiwan was one of the major users of the Mirage 2000-5 platform, with an order of 60 units placed in the 1990s.
Sustainment Challenges of the Mirage Platform
Taiwan states that the current Mirage 2000-5 platform is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain and sustain. The country has announced that this situation makes a transition to a different combat air platform inevitable. Taiwan has allocated $4.8 million for a feasibility study to be conducted by Dassault to determine whether the Mirage fighters can remain in service for another 20 years. This study will clarify the timing and cost of the transition decision.
Potential Alternative: Multi-Role Rafale
The Taiwan Air Force has begun to consider the French-made Rafale as one of the main possible alternatives in the procurement process for the next-generation multi-role fighter jet.
TheRafale is a 4.5 generation multirole fighter jet developed by Dassault Aviation.
Design and Performance: The Rafale, which stands out with its delta wing and canard structure, is highly maneuverable thanks to these aerodynamic features and can successfully perform a wide range of missions.
Ammunition Capacity: The aircraft is capable of carrying up to 9 tons of ammunition. The range of ammunition is quite wide, from MICA and METEOR air-to-air missiles to SCALP cruise missiles and Exocet anti-ship missiles.
Speed and Range: With its two M88-2 turbofan engines, it can reach a maximum speed of 1,800 km/h and has a range of 3,700 km.
Advanced Avionics: Rafale is equipped with high-tech systems such as the advanced SPECTRA electronic warfare system, RBE2 AESA radar and OSF (optronique secteur frontal) frontal optical system. These systems work in an integrated fashion to provide pilots with superior situational awareness against airborne and ground-based threats.
