The Taiwanese Army has conducted an aircraft hot refueling and arming exercise in preparation for a potential conflict with China.
Held at a base in southern Taiwan, the drill involved AH-1W and OH-58D attack helicopters.
During the training, ground crew swiftly refilled the tanks of the freshly-landed choppers while their engines were still running.
The exercise took place over one day and night with the help of an M978 oil tank truck, a government report stated.
They also rearmed the helicopters with 2.75-inch rockets, demonstrating the army’s improved combat capabilities.
The exercise “incorporated realistic scenarios to simulate battlefield conditions in order to hone soldiers’ skills and enhance coordination and cooperation between air and ground crews,” according to Taiwan News.
Need for Air-to-Air Refueling Capability
In 2021, a Taipei Times assessment pointed out that Chinese forces may target the country’s runways first in case of an invasion.
Such attacks would limit Taiwan’s capability to conduct land refueling and rearmament of its warplanes before rejoining the battle.
To address the capability gap, the Taiwanese government is being urged to convince the US to sell it refueling aircraft.
The US Air Force currently operates the KC-46A Pegasus tanker, which has been cleared for worldwide deployment.
Air-to-air refueling would enable the island nation to sustain its capabilities during an aerial battle.
It would also preserve Taipei’s fighting ability and allow its forces to immediately launch a counterattack.
Still Behind Adversary
Despite showcasing its refueling and rearming capabilities, the Taiwanese military still lags far behind its adversary in aerial power.
Last year, Beijing unveiled its Y-20 aircraft to refuel its warplanes, including the J-16 fighter.
The tanker aircraft can carry 90 tons of fuel, roughly equal to the capacity of Boeing’s KC-135 Stratotanker.
The Y-20 reportedly provides “long-range maneuver capability” to China’s current and future fighter fleet.
