Republic of China Air Force
| Republic of China Air Force | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Emblem of the Republic of China Air Force | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1920 (military aviation) 17 August 1946 (in its current form) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Republic of China (Taiwan) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Air force | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Aerial warfare | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Size | 35,000 active personnel (2023) 90,000 reservists (2023) 577 aircraft (2023) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Part of | Republic of China Armed Forces | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Garrison/HQ | Zhongshan, Taipei | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commanders | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commander | General Cheng Jung-feng | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy Commander | Lieutenant-General Liu Feng-yu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Master Sergeant | Master Sergeant Pang Mao-Hsiung | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roundel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Flag | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unit colour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aircraft flown | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electronic warfare | E-2T/K, C-130HE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fighter | F-16V/B/AM/BM/A/Block 20, Mirage 2000-5DI/EI, F-CK-1C/D, F-5E/F | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Helicopter | EC225 Super Puma, S-70C, UH-60M | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reconnaissance | RF-5E, RF-16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trainer | AT-3B, T-34C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transport | C-130H, Fokker 50, Beechcraft B-1900C, Boeing 737–800 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 中華民國空軍 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Republic of China Air Force (Chinese: 中華民國空軍), or the ROCAF; known colloquially as the Taiwanese Air Force (Chinese: 臺灣空軍) by Western or mainland Chinese media, or commonly referred as the National Military Air Force (Chinese: 國軍空軍) by local Taiwanese people, is the military aviation branch of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Armed Forces.
The History of the ROCAF traces back to 1920, when military aviation was first introduced by the Chinese Nationalist Party within its National Revolutionary Army. During the 2nd Sino-Japanese War, it was commonly known as the Chinese Nationalist Air Force. It later became a fully independent service branch from 17 August 1946 under the name Chinese Air Force.
The ROCAF's primary mission is the defense of the airspace over and around the Taiwan Area. Priorities of the ROCAF include the development of long range reconnaissance and surveillance networks, integrating C4ISTAR systems to increase battle effectiveness, procuring counterstrike weapons, next generation fighters, and hardening airfields and other facilities to survive a surprise attack.