Second Batch of Apaches Arrive in Taiwan
/
0 Comments
The US-made aircraft were shipped to a harbor in the southern city of Kaohsiung, from which they will be carried by truck to an Army Aviation Special Forces base in neighboring Tainan for assembly, military officials said.
Taiwan spent more than US$2 billion on the model-E helicopters, the most advanced of the Apache series.
No problems have been found in Taiwan's first six Apaches, but the newly delivered helicopters will still be grounded for safety checks, according to a military source familiar with the matter.
Pilots at the Tainan base will use simulators for training purposes while checks continue, the source said.
Taiwan has not received any further information from the US on the cause of the problem, Army Aviation Special Forces officials said.
Taiwan is the only country other than the US to be in possession of the latest model of Apache helicopter known for its ground attack capabilities. [via]
