Taipei:Taiwan's Air Force is set to initiate its annual Tien Lung, or "Sky Dragon," drills on Monday, aimed at assessing pilots' combat skills and ground-based logistical support, as revealed by a military source.
According to Focus Taiwan, the drills will extend through Friday, focusing on testing pilots' capabilities in air-to-air, air-to-sea, and air-to-ground combat. The exercises will involve the Air Force's main fighter aircraft, including F-16Vs, Mirage 2000-5s, and Indigenous Defense Fighters (IDFs).
The exercises will emphasize aerial interceptions and the use of the aerial gunnery target system (AGTS). The drills will simulate scenarios where pilots must scramble their aircraft at short notice, identify targets, fire missiles, and engage in mock "dogfights" with enemy aircraft. As in previous years, the Air Force will also select flying aces in various categories, such as aerial combat and precision.
The Tien Lung exercises will also incorporate ground-based logistical support drills and evaluate the Air Force's joint operational capabilities with the Army, Navy, and Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command.
