According to the ROC (Republic of China or Taiwan) Navy, the drills on the second day of the exercise were to test the joint interdiction capabilities of the navy and air force. The drills on that day focused on the navy and air force as well as the coast guard.
More than 20 different Navy and Coast Guard vessels took part in the exercise, including;
- Keelung-class (former American Kidd-class) destroyers,
- Kang Ding-class frigates (based on the French La Fayette-class frigates),
- Cheng Kung-class (Oliver Hazard Perry-class) frigates,
- Chi Yang-class frigates (former American Knox-class),
- Tuo Chiang-class corvettes,
- Ching Chiang-class corvettes,
- Kuang Hua VI -class missile boats,
- Yung Feng-class mine hunters,
- Chien Lung-class submarines,
- Anping-class Coast Guard patrol boats,
- S-70C ASW helicopters.
The Taiwanese Air Force’s F-16V, Mirage 2000, and F-CK-1 Ching-kuo (also known as IDF, Indigenous Defense Fighter) fighter jets, as well as P-3C Orion anti-submarine and maritime patrol aircraft, took part in the joint exercise.
According to video and photos provided by the ROC Navy, the ships and aircraft conducted air defence exercises in harbor, mine hunting, fleet air defense, joint anti-submarine warfare, and anti-surface warfare drills.
During the exercise, the naval ships fired 5-inch guns, SM-1MR surface-to-air missiles and ASROC anti-submarine missiles, dropped depth charges, launched chaff, and used ASW helicopters to deploy dipping sonars.
Taiwan Air Force fighter jets live-fired the AIM-9 Sidewinder and French R.550 Magic air-to-air missiles. But the Sidewinder fired by the F-16V and the R.550 Magic fired by the Mirage 2000 failed to hit the target.
The Taiwan Coast Guard’s Anping-class patrol vessels, which weren’t equipped with Hsiung Feng- II or Hisung Feng- III anti-ship missiles during the exercise, fired 2.75-inch missiles as part of the training.
“The ROC Navy is working closely with the coast guard, sharing information on maritime activities around Taiwan, the two forces also carry out patrols together, and will fight the enemy in times of war.”
Captain Hsu Wen-lung (徐文龍), Commanding Officer of DDG-1801 Keelung
“The purpose of the exercise was to improve military’s combat skills and capabilities,and it is invaluable to the military, no matter the missiles have hit the target or not.”
Army Major General Sun Li-fang (孫立方), Taiwan Defense Ministry Spokesman
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) boarded Kidd-class destroyer (DDG-1801, Keelung) along with several senior national security and military officials to observe the exercise. The attendant officials include National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Koo Li-Hsiung (顧立雄), Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正), NSC Deputy Secretary-General York Chen (陳文政), Commander of the Navy, admiral Mei Jia-Shu (梅家樹), Commanding officer of Task Force 62 and Commander of naval fleet command, vice admiral Huang Yu-Min(黃佑民).
President Tsai has boarded a vessel for the second time to attend a military maneuver. In April 2018, she boarded the Keelung to inspect a joint navy and air force exercise.
Although some missiles missed the target, President Tsai Ing-wen praised the military personnel who took part in the exercise, saying, “Good job, let’s keep working hard to protect our homeland.”
