[Llarry]

Taiwan's air force: The Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) is of course vastly outnumbered by the mainland Chinese air force. But they've managed (with sometimes quiet help from the U.S.) to develop a capable air force.

The main combat aircraft are the F-16A, the indigenously-built F-CK-1 and the Mirage 2000. They also have advanced F-16V fighters on order; the F-16V will have advanced radar systems with electronically-scanned arrays: existing F-16As may be updated as well.

The ROCAF also operates 12 P-3C Orion patrol aircraft and may be modifying 3 more P-3 airframes into SIGINT aircraft -- the equivalent of the U.S. Navy's EP-3Es. They also have several E-2K Hawkeye AEW aircraft.

Transports included the Lockheed C-130H, Beechcraft 1900 light transports and there are also a number of UH-60 helicopters.

The ROCAF is developing a supersonic advanced trainer, the T-5 from the F-CK-1 fighter. (By the way, the designation includes 'CK' because of the late president Chiang Ching-Kuo.)

The Air Force also has a number of ground-based radars and surface-to-air missile systems, including the U.S. Patriot system.