Taiwan Retires F-5 Fighters, Modernizing Air Defense Against China

A retirement ceremony marked the end of an era for Taiwan's Vietnam-era F-5 fighter jets. Three RF-5E Tigergazer reconnaissance versions, along with two F-5F fighters, participated in a final flyby at an air base in Hualien, eastern Taiwan.

The retirement of these aircraft is part of Taiwan's ongoing shift towards more advanced military technology. This modernization effort is driven by the need to address increasing threats from mainland China. Taiwan has been actively upgrading its air assets, including the acquisition of new F-16V fighters and the modernization of existing aircraft.

China views Taiwan as its own territory and has not renounced the possibility of invasion since the split between the two sides in 1949. The air force organized the flyby to commemorate the F-5, which first entered service in Taiwan in 1965. Many of these aircraft have since been repurposed as trainers, reconnaissance planes, or decoys.

The F-5s began transitioning to a supporting role three decades ago when Taiwan began acquiring more modern aircraft from the United States, France, and domestically. The F-5 is a widely produced jet, with Taiwan once being the largest operator, having produced a significant number of them domestically. These aircraft were valued for their speed, maneuverability, affordability, and ease of maintenance. They played a crucial role in defending the skies over the Taiwan Strait against mainland China's air forces.

Taiwan's F-5s were stationed along the eastern coast, protected by both the Taiwan Strait and the Central Mountain Range.