TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan carried out a hot refueling and rearming drill in Taichung on Thursday. 

Aviation and Special Forces Command ground crew guided Super Cobra helicopters to designated landing zones and immediately began refueling and reloading Hellfire missiles with engines still running, CNA reported.

Military analyst Chi Tung-yun (紀東昀) said that during a conflict, the command can move anywhere to carry out logistical support operations, which is critical for sustaining combat power.

The command’s 602nd Brigade is mainly equipped with Super Cobra attack helicopters, whose twin engines make them reliable in tropical environments where engine performance might otherwise worsen, Chi said. 

He added that hot refueling and combat resupply are considered very challenging even for the US military. Refueling with the aircraft’s engine still operating inherently carries a higher risk.

The command also conducted a hot refueling drill in New Taipei City on Thursday with two Black Hawk and two Apache helicopters landing at the riverside park in Shulin District.