美前國防副部長喊租F-35戰機給台灣？專家爆真相 中時 20201009

美前國防副部長喊租F-35戰機給台灣？專家爆真相    中時 20201009

共機近期頻頻擾台，今年累計闖入我防空識別區已逾1700架次，而台海關係緊張，也讓台灣的國防作戰能力備受國際關注。美國前國防部長布萊恩（Stephen Bryen）認為，台灣仍需美國更大實質承諾，關鍵是可以讓美國代訓台灣空軍飛行員，提供台灣F-35匿蹤戰鬥機隊，遇緊急狀況可馬上轉移來台。

據美國《新聞週刊》(Newsweek)近期刊出美國前國防部國防技術安全管理局創始人布萊恩的文章，他認為，近期台美關係升溫，面對大陸對台的潛在軍事威脅行為，目前美國限制對台出售先進戰機給台灣，有部分原因在於，除對台灣空軍飛行員是否有能力駕駛感到擔憂外，另一部分也是對中國大陸的反應而擔憂。

他建議，前者的解決方式，可由美軍在美代訓台灣飛行員，並讓F-35在美待命，一旦有「緊急情況」就可隨時轉移到台灣進行協助。

至於後者的政治問題，他也建議，美國政府應準備一支F-35後備部隊，可隸屬於台灣的編制，或是以租賃方式給台灣，讓這支部隊能隨時協防台灣應對中國大陸對台灣的報復行為。

報導也提及，布萊恩認為，台灣目前沒有隱形飛機。而台灣現有140架舊款F-16飛機正在升級中，雖然將陸續獲得更先進的66架F-16V（毒蛇）戰機，其雷達特徵更小。但F16V預計要到2026年左右才能全數交付，這意味著未來的5年時間，台灣將不得不依靠老式飛機。布萊恩也說，若升級計劃順利，到2020年底，台灣將擁有約50架F-16升級版，但現在的情況是略有延遲。

報導指出，中國大陸去年中開始全面量產J-20隱形戰機，其裝備渦扇-15（WS-15）發動機，增加了推力向量控制（TVC），這可重定向發動機的推力，並使飛機非常靈活。俄羅斯的Su-35和即將推出的Su-57具有TVC。F-16沒有，而F35則仰賴其遠距離空對空的「超視距導彈」及其優秀的雷達匿蹤能力來進行作戰。

報導認為，台灣需要一架可以在公路和簡易機場上運行的短距離起降飛機，F-35B是世界上第一架超音速短距起飛且垂直著陸的隱形飛機。它非常適合台灣，並有足夠保護台灣的作戰範圍。美國海軍陸戰隊已經擁有總部位於日本岩國的F-35B，並擁有包括沖繩島在內的跳島戰略，如果發生衝突，支持和未來與台灣的互操作性將成為重要的選擇。

布萊恩也強調，美國做出專用於台灣的F-35機隊的政治決定，將考驗美國和台灣一樣的勇氣，但若提出這樣的美國計劃，將有助於穩定東亞的安全。

對此，台灣軍事專家接受中時新聞網訪問表示，他個人認為雖然F35符合台灣的防衛需求，但可能性不大，因為美國自己的不夠用，哪還會租給台灣，真要租不如直接出售。

 

Lease F-35s to Taiwan to Counter China's Threats

The United States cannot stand by and watch as China steps up its aggressive behavior toward Taiwan. While sending a high-level official to Taiwan for the first time since Washington broke off diplomatic relations with the island nation in 1979 is a positive step, Taiwan needs a greater commitment by the United States. A key element of that commitment could be to make the F-35 stealth fighter available to Taiwan. Currently, the U.S. restricts sale of the fighters in part because of concerns about the Taiwanese Air Force's ability to fly them, and in part out of concern over the response of the mainland Chinese government.

The first issue can be addressed by training Taiwan's pilots in the U.S. and having F-35s on standby that can be transferred to Taiwan if an emergency requires them.

The second is a political problem, but one that can be overcome. In 2018, I visited Taiwan and addressed the National Defense University, the Prospect Foundation and the East Asia Peace Forum, where I said the U.S. should significantly upgrade its military support for Taiwan. I proposed having a standby force of F-35's in the U.S. that either would belong to Taiwan or be leased to Taiwan. That force would be available to respond to any retaliation by mainland China.

Taiwan does not presently have stealth aircraft. Taipei has 140 old F-16s which are in the process of being upgraded, and will get 66 of a more modern version of the jets known as the F-16V (Viper), which has a smaller radar signature. However, the Vipers will not be delivered until about 2026, meaning that for at least the next five years, Taiwan will have to rely on the older planes. There have been some delays in the upgrade program, but if the schedule is kept, Taiwan will have approximately 50 upgraded F-16's by the end of 2020. Given that Taiwan would otherwise spend a huge amount of money on the upgrades and new aircraft, an F-35 lease also makes financial sense.

Beijing already has access to a variety of advanced jets. The Russians have touted their Su-35 jet fighter, a 4++ platform already delivered to China, as far superior to the F-16 (although the Russians are careful not to say which model of the F-16 over which they are claiming superiority.)

China also has stealth jets, most importantly the Chengdu J-20, which went into service in 2017 and into full production as the J-20B last July. China added Thrust Vector Control (TVC)—the ability to redirect the thrust of the engine and make the aircraft extremely agile—in the jet's production model. The Russian Su-35 and the upcoming Su-57 have TVC. The F-16 does not. Neither does the F-35, which depends on its long-range air-to-air Beyond Visual Range missiles and its claimed invisibility to radar to give it a combat edge.

Chinese planes have been flying aggressively around Taiwan, crossing an agreed-upon but invisible line in the middle of the Taiwan Straits called the Air Defense Identification Zone. To date, Beijing has not deployed the J-20 on those missions. However, on September 26, a J-20 was seen operating in Quzhou, in Zhejiang province, about 500 km from Taiwan. Whether the presence of the J-20 had anything to do with Taiwan is purely speculative, but the Taiwanese saw it as a threat. Meanwhile, the aircraft flying around Taiwan are the Chinese H6 bomber (based on the Russian Tu-16 but modernized), and the J-10, J11 and J-16 fighter aircraft. The J-10 is a knockoff of the F-16, and the J-10B has an AESA radar (like the upcoming upgraded Taiwan F-16's). The J-11 is a knockoff of the Russian Su-27, a twin-engine aircraft originally built in China from Russian kits but now improved and locally manufactured. The J-16 is a multi-role strike aircraft based on the Su-30MKK from Russia.

Taiwan needs a short takeoff and landing aircraft that can operate from roads and improvised airfields, since most of its airports are vulnerable to missile strikes from China. Many countries have dedicated highway strips but few have aircraft capable of short takeoff and landing. However, the F-35B is the world's first supersonic short takeoff/vertical landing stealth aircraft. It is perfect for Taiwan and has sufficient range for the island's protection. The U.S. Marines already have F-35Bs based at Iwakuni, Japan, and have an island-hopping strategy that includes Okinawa, making support and future interoperability with Taiwan an important option if a conflict happens.

And, if conflict breaks out, with leased F-35Bs, the U.S. and Taiwan would both be ahead of the game. Training Taiwanese pilots on the F-35 in the United States would provide a cadre of top-gun pilots. But making the political decision to support a fleet of F-35s in the United States dedicated to Taiwan will test America's mettle as much as that of Taiwan.

A training and lease program for Taiwan sends a series of strong messages to China. First, that the U.S. is prepared to meet aggressive Chinese behavior with the movement of F-35's to Taiwan. Second, that training and exercises will be kept away from China's spies, adding to Taiwan's security. Finally, that any preemptive attack by China to try to eliminate the F-35's in Taiwan won't work, because they won't be on the island.

As a result, a U.S. program like the one proposed here would help stabilize security in East Asia.

Stephen Bryen served as a Deputy Under Secretary of Defense and founder and first Director of the Defense Technology Security Administration. For five years he was a Commissioner on the US-China Economic and Security Commission. After his Pentagon service, Dr. Bryen was president of Finmeccanica North America (now Leonardo).