Republic of China Air Force

The Republic of China Air Force (中華民國空軍) is the aviation branch of the armed forces of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and is often viewed as one of the most professional and capable branches of the Republic of China's armed forces. The ROCAF's primary mission is the defense of the airspace over and around Taiwan against an attack by the People's Republic of China, and currently numbers around 53,000 personnel. Current priorities of the ROCAF include the development of long range reconnaissance and surveillence networks, integrating C4ISR systems to increase battle effectiveness, procuring counterstrike weapons, next generation fighters, and hardening airfields and other facilities to survive a surprise attack.

Organization

Like most of the other branches of the ROC armed forces, much of the ROCAF's structure and organization is patterened after it's U.S. counterpart. Like the USAF, the ROCAF has a wing -> group -> squadron structure.

Air Force General Headquarters (空軍總司令部)

Air Force GHQ is subordinate to the General Staff (military), the Minister of Defense (civilian), and the ROC President.

Internal Units: Personnel, Combat Readiness & Training, Logistics, Planning, Communications, Electronics & Information, General Affairs, Comptroller, Inspector General, Political Warfare.
Air Force Combatant Command (作戰司令部)

Weather Wing (氣象聯隊): Tamsui, Taipei County
Communications, Air Traffic Control & Information Wing (通信航管資訊聯隊): Taipei City
Air Tactical Control Wing (戰術管制聯隊)

Air Defense Artillery & Garrison Command (防砲警衛司令部)
Education, Traning & Doctrine Command (教育訓練暨準則發展司令部)
Logistics Command (後勤司令部)
Combat Wings (作戰聯隊)

401st Tactical Fighter Wing (401聯隊): Hualien AFB
427th Tactical Fighter Wing (427聯隊): Ching Chuan Kang AFB
439th Combined Wing (439聯隊): Pingtung AFB
443rd Tactical Fighter Wing (443聯隊): Tainan AFB
455th Tactical Fighter Wing (455聯隊): Chiayi AFB
499th Tactical Fighter Wing (499聯隊): Hsinchu AFB

Air Force Base Command (基地指揮部)

Sungshan Base Command (松山基地指揮部)
Taoyuan Base Command (桃園基地指揮部)

Air Force Academy (空軍官校)

History

Formally established in 1920 as the Aviation Ministry, the ROCAF was extremely active during the tenure of the ROC on Mainland China. During the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), the ROCAF participated in straffing runs on Japanese warships during the Battle of Shanghai in 1937, and engaged Japanese fighters in air battles over the Wuhan region the same year. 2 ROCAF B-10's also dropped propaganda leaflets over the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Saga in 1938.

During World War II, the ROCAF was augmented by the paticipation of the American Volunteer Group (the Flying Tigers) in 1941. The ROCAF was involved in attacks on Japanese air and ground forces in the Chinese theatre throughout the war.

ROCAF General HQ was established in June 1946. From 1946-1948, during the Chinese Civil War, the ROCAF participated in combat against the People's Liberation Army engaging in air to air combat on at least eleven occasions in the areas surrounding the Taiwan Strait. The ROCAF reportedly enjoyed a 31:1 kill ratio against the PLA. GHQ was evacuated to Taiwan along with the rest of the ROC Government in April 1949 following the the Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War. The ROCAF assisted in halting the PLA advance at the Battle of Kuningtou on Kinmen the same year.

During the Cold War, the ROCAF was involved in combat air patrols over the Taiwan Strait and engaged the PLAAF on several occasions. In 1979, Taiwan began the devlopment of the F-CK IDF (Indiginous Defense Fighter) aircraft.

Equipment

Most of the ROCAF's armament is purchased from the United States which also assists in the training of some ROCAF pilots. The Mirgae-2000 fighters were purchased from France in the early 1990's. Some of the ROCAF's aircraft and weapons are also developed domestically such as the F-CK IDF fighter and the Sky Sword series of missiles.