Taiwan buys 30 AH-64 Apaches

[Lankan Ranger]

Taiwan buys 30 AH-64 Apaches

Taiwan will receive 30 Boeing AH-64 Block III Apache helicopters under a new contract signed with the US government, a US Army official announced on 10 June.

The order marks the latest show of US military support to Taiwan despite deep objections by China, and confirms the first international customer for the AH-64 Block III.

Col Shane Openshaw, the army's AH-64 project manager, said Taiwan's first new-build helicopter will enter production in October, with the rest of the aircraft sprinkled through Boeing's production programme.

The AH-64 Block III deal is known in Taiwan as a project code-named Sky Eagle.

The Block III programme upgrades the engine and transmission system on the AH-64, restoring speed and lift performance lost after two decades of service added weight to the original airframes.

The Block III variant also introduces new software and connectivity, allowing the pilots to simultaneously control unmanned air vehicles and their payloads.

The US Army is programmed to receive a fleet of 690 AH-64 Block IIIs over the next 15 years, with all but 56 aircraft remanufactured from previous models. The remainder will be new-build aircraft to replace helicopters lost in combat operations over the last decade.

Taiwan buys 30 AH-64 Apaches

 

[Rank]

good they can buy... even every country can buy anything because these countries are non muslims and if muslims thn dont have nuke LOL!

 

[Pfpilot]

This is where I get confused about the supposed nobility of US foreign policy as proposed by Americans...they are willing to sell Apaches to Taiwan which is hardly of importance to them or their interests, it is separated by water from its main adversary...but when it comes to Pakistan, directly involved in fighting the war on terror along side the Americans in rugged terrain hard to reach on land...where US lives are also on the line and Pakistan success is of paramount importance...we are rejected when it comes to these very same choppers.
The Americans value the distraction of China through all means necessary a more important task than to prevent the loss of its own troops in Afghanistan...that doesn't sound very much like the America we see on CNN.

 

[Luftwaffe]

pfpilot...that is why I tell many of them mr. musharraf is the cause of it, bad policies and wrong though not wrong war he demanded peanuts knowing the bloody war would not end so soon all thanks to musharraf.

 

[Comet]

US just want to make some more money... let them have it.. It is not like we are able to pay that much money to US for these chopper.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

I am sure China has no problem

 

[Abhishek_]

good for TW

 

[Pfpilot]

pfpilot...that is why I tell many of them mr. musharraf is the cause of it, bad policies and wrong though not wrong war he demanded peanuts knowing the bloody war would not end so soon all thanks for musharraf.

This is becoming more and more obvious...the war is, in my opinion, is just reaching its height...for Pakistan, it is only now the general public and the government has realized how big a threat these terrorists are to our own future and the ISI has much control as the neighborhood police officer taking bribes at every turn. As we reach the most crucial part of this war, we have a few f-16s and frigates with no air defense capabilities to show for our support to the Americans...instead of playing the political chess match that international relations are supposed to be, we got over excited and took whatever the Americans were willing to give.
It is just sad to see countries such as Taiwan who may never use these choppers for anything other than airshows being given access to the sort of tech that could save hundreds of Pakistani soldiers.

 

[faithfulguy]

I think Taiwan should reject used helicopters and request latest longbows.

 

[CardSharp]

No one is all that concerned on the either side of the strait about some Apaches plus it will make Mr. Ma's domestic policy headache smaller. What is really of interest to both sides is the upcoming sub deal. That deal has been in the pipes for 20 odd years, and there seems to be some indication that the PRC will it let go through if Taiwan half the number of subs they order.

 

[applesauce]

I think Taiwan should reject used helicopters and request latest longbows.

these will be new built, no?

and i think taiwan should try for the longbow too

 

[Roybot]

I think Taiwan should reject used helicopters and request latest longbows.

Col Shane Openshaw, the army's AH-64 project manager, said Taiwan's first new-build helicopter will enter production in October, with the rest of the aircraft sprinkled through Boeing's production programme.

 

[Thomas]

US Army won't have it's first Block III equipped unit in November 2012.