With the further escalation of the PLA's actions around Taiwan, tensions spread on the island, especially for the J-20 related dynamics, Taiwan has always been unable to see or hear, and this is very frustrating.
Recently, the Taiwan region has not only begun to upgrade its existing E-2K early warning aircraft, but also actively sought to purchase more advanced E-2D early warning aircraft from United States, with the intention of enhancing its tracking and monitoring capabilities against the PLA, especially stealth fighters, such as the J-20.
The AN/APY-9 radar system equipped with the E-2D AWACS aircraft can detect and track targets up to 550 kilometers away, thereby providing Taiwan's local armed forces with a clearer global view of the PLA's air movements.
Theoretically, this capability will greatly enhance the ability of Taiwan's local armed forces to provide early warning and response to potential threats, especially in terms of reaction time and tactical deployment.
However, the introduction of high-end military equipment is bound to be accompanied by high costs.
According to reports, the initial Taiwan was interested in purchasing six E-2D AWACS aircraft for United States, but the asking price of each aircraft was as high as $400 million, which overran the overall budget and the project was left unresolved.
However, according to the latest news, Taiwan seems to have found a way to reduce costs.
By "making up orders" with Japan, Taiwan hopes to take advantage of the opportunity of Japan to purchase more E-2D early warning aircraft, so as to avoid the closure of the production line by the · company and strive for a more reasonable price.
It is not difficult to see that in order to have the "magic weapon" against the J-20, Taiwan can be said to have done its best, and no matter what, it wants to make another last struggle.
However, if the E-2D AWACS aircraft is put into actual combat, will it really be able to play the expected effect?
In the military sphere, AWACS aircraft are of paramount importance as the "eyes" of modern air combat. Taiwan has always been both envious and anxious, hoping to update its early warning aircraft fleet in a timely manner to improve its air surveillance and command capabilities.
According to reports, the United States quoted Taiwan at the end of 2020 for six E-2D AWACS aircraft for a total price of about $2.36 billion, including backup parts, logistics training and technical support.
At that time, the AWACS production line was about to be shut down, which was expected to end by the end of 2024, and the United States also warned that if the production line was to be restarted, the cost would soar to $8 billion.
However, Japan's purchase of five additional E-2Ds in early 2023 provides Taiwan with an opportunity to purchase the aircraft at a more reasonable price, but only until the end of 2026.
Taiwan's local air force currently has six E-2K AWACS aircraft, two of which are the newest ones that have been in service for 16 years, and the other four have been upgraded from the E-2T, and the structure is more than 26 years old.
Against this background, the Taiwan Air Force is not only striving to upgrade the E-2K to the E-2D, but also seeking to purchase a completely new E-2D AWACS aircraft. Due to the use of active phased array radar, the E-2D's ability to detect small, low-radar cross-section targets far exceeds that of the E-2K.
In addition, the E-2D early warning aircraft can provide target designation for Taiwan's self-made medium and long-range anti-ship missiles, and its detection capabilities for stealth targets and strong radar anti-jamming capabilities pose a certain threat to the PLA's J-20 fighters.
However, in the face of a possible conflict, the E-2 AWACS aircraft has become a key target of attack by the enemy, and its performance in actual combat is still questionable. As can be seen from the example of the downing of the Russian A-50 AWACS aircraft in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the survivability of the E-2 is indeed a cause for concern.
Analysts believe that even if a small number of E-2Ds survive, they will be interfered with by various electronic warfare aircraft and equipment, and their detection capabilities will be significantly reduced. Even advanced PLA fighters using medium-range air-to-air missiles can pose a threat to the E-2D beyond its detection range.
Although the E-2D has the potential to detect the PLA stealth fighter J-20, there is still a lot of uncertainty about whether the Taiwan will be able to complete the purchase and obtain the aircraft in time, given the timeframe for ·the company to stop production by the end of 2026. Even if a purchase contract can be signed before the production line closes, the delivery of the aircraft is challenging.
It is worth noting that not long ago, a United States think tank released a report pointing out that as of June this year, the amount of arms sales delayed by the US government to Taiwan had increased by $840 million.
More than 19 weapons procurement projects are in a state of delay, some of them have been delayed until 2027, and some are even far away.
For Taiwan, the J-20 has never been a dangerous existence, but a "guardian" of the peaceful reunification of the two sides of the strait.