The US government may be reconsidering Taiwan’s request for Sikorsky MH-60R anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters, although the Northrop Grumman E-2D Hawkeye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft may remain off the table.
Citing a high-level source Taiwan defence source, the Taipei Times says that the US has signalled that it is willing to discuss the acquisition of 13 or more MH-60Rs.
The report notes that the nation’s S-70C fleet is down to 17 helicopters as four have been lost in crashes. Cirium, an aviation analytics company, indicates that the average age of the fleet is 28.6 years.
The US side is apparently concerned about the rapid build-up in China’s submarine fleet, a force that would likely play a key role in any Chinese effort to conquer Taiwan.
The report adds, however, that the US government is not open to discussing sales of the E-2D.
According to a June editorial by Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the US Taiwan Business Council, the administration of former US President Joe Biden halted the possibility of Taiwan procuring E-2Ds, MH-60Rs and other defence equipment in 2022.
In addition, the Biden administration stopped an effort by Taiwan to develop a local replacement for the country’s Northrop F-5 fighters, which have subsequently exited service.
Chinese ruler Xi Jinping has not abandoned the idea of using force to conquer Taiwan. He has also overseen an unprecedented military build-up, which has greatly increased the strength of Chinese naval power, including submarines.
In addition to the 17 S-70Cs, Taiwan operates 12 Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft in the ASW role. In addition, it has seven MD500 helicopters earmarked for ASW work, but the average age of this fleet is 45 years.
Taiwan’s AEW&C fleet is also in need of replacement given advances in Chinese manned and unmanned airpower. The country’s air force operates five E-2K Hawkeye 2000s with an average age of 41.9 years, following the loss of one example in a 2022 landing accident.
Three of the in-service aircraft are E-2Ts that were upgraded the E-2K Hawkeye 2000 standard in the early 2010s, with an average age of 55 years. The other two were delivered in the early 2000s.
