TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Air Force conducted its annual Tian Long exercise on Monday morning (Nov. 4) to sharpen pilots’ aerial combat skills.
Originally scheduled for Oct. 28, the exercise was postponed due to Typhoon Kong-rey. During the drills, the Air Force scrambled F-16Vs, Mirage 2000s, and IDF fighters for mock dogfights and verified their aerial gunnery targeting systems, CNA reported. Pilots also practiced bombing runs and missile launches, per the Air Force Command.
The command emphasized that putting pilots through fast-paced, high-pressure scenarios would better prepare them to intercept and repel enemy aircraft.
In related exercises, the Army recently conducted its Chang Tai 19 exercise across central and southern Taiwan. The mock battle involved the Army's Mechanized Infantry 333rd Brigade and Armored 586th Brigade, with support from the Navy, Air Force, and the Army Aviation and Special Forces Command to enhance joint operational capabilities. Lieutenant General Li Tien-lung (李天龍), commander of the Army's Sixth Army Corps, stated that the drills focused on “realistic combat” training, incorporating a variety of tactical maneuvers to boost mobility and real-time response capabilities.