The USA has started deliveries of Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles to Taiwan in a move that confirms that the US Department of Defense believes the Chinese air force has the Russian equivalent, the Vympel R-77 (RVV-AE/AA-12 Adder), in operation.
The USA shipped over 100 AMRAAMs to Taiwan last month having frozen shipments for the past three years, arguing that their release would increase tensions between China and Taiwan.
The Taiwanese government ordered 200 AMRAAMs in 1999 in a $150 million deal, but deliveries were dependent upon US assessments of China's R-77 order, also placed in 1999. China completed initial R-77 firings in mid-2002. Washington is understood to have considered this qualification rather than evidence of an operational capability.
Sources say the initial AMRAAM deliveries to Taiwan comprise the bulk of the order, but tens of weapons are still waiting to be shipped.
Source: Flight International