A New Client for the F-35B? Taiwan's Defence Minister Indicates Interest in Acquiring U.S. Stealth Fighters

Amid growing tensions with China and serious doubts regarding the Taiwanese Air Force's ability to mount anything more than a token defence should conflict break out, Taiwan's new Defense Minster Yen Teh Fa stated on March 15th that his country was interested in purchasing U.S. made F-35 light stealth fighters. Minister Yen stated that the F-35 matched the military's requirements - in particular the F-35B variant designed for use by the U.S. Marines. While the vast majority of U.S. F-35 exports have been of the F-35A, the conventional takeoff variant designed for the Air Force, the far higher acquisition and maintenance costs of the more specialised F-35B have seen it operated far less widely. The fighter compromises cost effectiveness, range, sortie rate and a degree of manoeuvrability for the ability to takeoff from short runways and perform vertical landings - a capability known as short takeoff vertical landing (STOVL).

The F-35B has primarily been marketed to states operating aircraft carriers lacking the size or arresting gear needed to deploy conventional takeoff fighters - including Italy's Cavour Class, Britain's Queen Elizabeth Class and Japan's Izumo Class warships. Another use for the aircraft however has been to operate from small islands or remote outposts where large runways are few and fare between, a role for which both Japan and Israel have considered the F-35B. Should Taiwan acquire the F-35B, it would likely be the first non carrier power to purchase the fighter which would be able to perform a unique role for its armed forces. With Taipei deploying much of its active military forces to outlying islands disputed with the Chinese military, these forces are largely reliant on antiquated surface to air missile systems such as the MIM-23 Hawk dating back to the 1950s to provide cover against air attacks. With the Air Force's combat fleet comprised exclusively of dated, short range and light weight fighters such as the F-16A and Ching Kuo, prospects for effective air support are negligible - particularly considering that the mainstay of China's fleet is comprised of heavier, longer ranged and far more sophisticated fighters such as he J-11 and Su-30. The F-35B can however potentially provide Taiwan with a unique means to deploy fighters to outlying islands to safeguard Taipei's interests far out at sea. As the only modern STOVL aircraft in production anywhere in the world, the F-35B thus provides unique capabilities for Taiwan's Air Force.

Minister Yen told lawmakers in his first interpellation session at the Legislature's Foreign Affairs and National Defence Committee that the F-35B would be an ideal platform for the military's needs. "Hopefully those needs can be fulfilled soon," he added, noting that Taipei had yet to make any official requests to the U.S. for the fifth generation aircraft. The minister further stated that he could not disclose the quantities being considered. The F-35B is the most costly fighter currently available for export anywhere in the world, with a flyaway cost of well over $120 million and operational costs of over $50,000 per hour. Given Taiwan's limited military budget, and the fighter's likely role of safeguarding small and remote island outposts rather than contributing to the defence of the home islands, a large acquisition remains unlikely. Whether the United States will be willing to sell the fighters to Taiwan however remains to be seen.