Monday, November 30, 2020

Will the Subs Sail in Time?

I've long been a proponent of getting submarines to Taiwan. Taiwan is finally building their own after failing to get a builder to sell them subs (America doesn't build conventional submarines).

This is good, but I hope it isn't too little, too late:

Taiwan has started building its first domestically developed submarine, with a US combat system, as it tries to boostthe self-ruled island’s defences against increasing military threats from Beijing. ...

It will be armed with MK-48 Mod 6 Advanced Technology heavyweight torpedoes, UGM-84L sub-launched Harpoon Block II missiles, and other combat and digital sonar systems provided by US suppliers Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, Taiwanese naval officials said.

Sea trials aren't expected until 2025, however. The rest of the eight planned will take longer, of course. I wish Taiwan had started this project long ago given the time it has taken just to get this far.

The Harpoon anti-ship missiles are especially helpful as a cover for early covert American intervention to hit the PLA invasion fleet.