Wednesday, 3 July 2013

Air Force forms anti-submarine group

The Ministry of National Defense released a statement Tuesday to announce the establishment of an Air Force anti-submarine group, part of efforts to safeguard the country.

The Air Force took possession of 11 S-2T anti-submarine planes from the Navy during a commissioning ceremony at an air force base in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan.

The main missions of the anti-submarine group will include countering the threat of submarine attack by opposing forces, said Chief of the General Staff Gen. Yen Ming at the ceremony, according to the statement.

Although Taiwan-China relations have improved a great deal in recent years, the military must remain vigilant, Yen said.

The new group will also receive the first batch of 12 P-3C submarine-hunting aircraft to be delivered by the United States by the end of this year.

The P-3C, the most capable Orion version, has advanced submarine detection capability.

In 2007, the U.S. government approved the sale of the P-3Cs with T-56 turboprop engines, and other associated equipment and services, at an estimated cost of US$1.96 billion.

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