After decades of service, Taiwan’s aging F-5 fighter jets from the Vietnam era are being retired as part of the island’s broader effort to modernize its military capabilities.
In response to growing threats from mainland China, Taiwan has been investing heavily in upgrading its aerial assets. The island has purchased 66 of the latest F-16V fighters and has upgraded existing aircraft to meet modern standards.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has maintained its stance of potential invasion since the two sides split amid civil war in 1949.
On Friday, the Taiwanese air force invited journalists to witness a final flyby of the F-5s, which first entered service in 1965. Most of these aircraft have now been repurposed as trainers, reconnaissance planes, or decoys.
The F-5s began to be phased out over 30 years ago when Taiwan started acquiring more advanced American F-16s, French Mirage 2000s, and domestically developed fighter jets.
Despite their age, the F-5 remains one of the world’s most widely produced jets. At its peak, Taiwan operated 336 aircraft, with around 100 built domestically. Dozens of countries still use them, including the US, which employs them in training exercises as mock opponents.
Known for their high speed, agility, affordability, and ease of maintenance, the F-5s played a key role in defending Taiwan’s skies over the Taiwan Strait against Chinese fighters, both Soviet-built and domestically produced.
Taiwan’s F-5s were based along the eastern coast, protected by the 160-kilometer-wide Taiwan Strait and the island’s rugged Central Mountain Range, forming a formidable barrier against potential threats from across the water.
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