Navy Looking to Purchase MH-60R Anti-submarine Helicopter 我爭取採購MH-60R直升機 傳美方否決

The Taiwanese Navy has actively sought to purchase MH-60R anti-submarine helicopters. However, the U.S. reportedly rejected Taiwan's invitation to bid on the procurement.

Taiwan and the U.S. have had close military exchanges in recent years, but there have been some changes in Taiwan's procurement of U.S. military hardware. The Naval Command originally was going to purchase 12 MH-60R anti-submarine helicopters from the U.S. as part of its Shenying 3 plan, which had a total budget of more than NT$34 billion, including funds for ammunition. However, the U.S. State Department reportedly rejected Taiwan's purchase proposal on the grounds that it "does not conform to the principle of asymmetric combat power." National Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said that he has not received any notification from the U.S.

Chiu Kuo-cheng, Minister of National Defense: “There must be a basis when we initially assessed and budgeted to do this purchase. If there are any unexpected reasons, we would then also make an adjustment.”

The Navy has been actively striving to purchase MH-60R helicopters in recent years. It has strong anti-submarine capabilities, can perform multiple tasks such as surface warfare, electromagnetic warfare, communication relay, search and rescue, and is equipped with weapons such as Hellfire missiles and light anti-submarine torpedoes. It can also follow our country's surface ships out to sea and perform vertical take-off and landing. Its performance is far better than the currently active S-70C anti-submarine helicopter.

Tseng Ming-chung, Legislator (KMT): “You've been bragging this whole time. Saying relationships between our two countries has been the best in history. Then why doesn't America sell us the armament we need?”

Hsu Chih-chieh, Legislator (DPP): “I think the U.S. usually fully supports Taiwan's asymmetrical combat power.”

The PLA's continued submarine operations in the underwater corridor will only increase threats to Taiwan. The United States now opposes Taiwan's investment in "platform-based" weapon systems. Whether Taiwan's anti-submarine warfare capabilities can compete with the PLA has triggered a lively discussion.

Su Tzu-yun, Director, Div. of Defense Strategy & Resources, INDSR: “It is different from the existing S-70 anti-submarine helicopter in that the MH-60R's engine is more powerful. This allows the helicopter to tolerate and perform in worse sea conditions when it's on or off the ship. It can also carry more anti-submarine torpedoes or anti-ship missiles. This allows it to execute sea control operations and underwater countermeasures.”

Scholars analyzed that this arms purchase case has not been "sentenced to death," and there is still room for communication. They recommend adjusting the defense budget. This is the last day of the first batch of the new military refresher program. Chiu believes that it is getting better and better. However, legislators pointed out that the lack of live weapons firing is insufficient for both refresher programs and active duty soldiers. The military only teaches firing weapons lying down, which does not meet actual combat needs. The military has also neglected to train for urban warfare and this needs to change as soon as possible. 

台美近年軍事交流密切，但我方對美軍採購傳出變數，海軍司令部以「神鷹3號」計畫，全案含彈藥共340多億元預算，向美採購12架MH-60R反潛直升機。不過，美國國務院傳出以「不符合不對稱戰力原則」為由，否決國軍的邀價書。對此，邱國正表示，還沒收到美方通知。

邱國正表示:「我們既然當初評估要做這個預算編列採購，那就一定有依據，假如有其他任何意外原因的話，那也會做一個調整或者轉圜。」

海軍近年積極爭取採購MH-60R直升機，具備強大的反潛能力、能執行水面戰、電磁戰、通信中繼、搜索和救援等多項任務，搭載地獄火飛彈丶輕型反潛魚雷等武器系統，還能跟隨我國現役水面艦出海，執行垂直起降，性能遠勝現役的S-70C反潛直升機。

國民黨立委曾銘宗表示:「一直在吹噓說目前是歷史上關係最好的時候，那為什麼需要的軍備，美國不賣給我們。」

民進黨立委許智傑表示:「我想美方對於台灣的不對稱戰力，通常都會滿支持的。」

面動中共潛艦持續在水下走廊，進行戰場經營，對台威脅只會越來越大，美方如今反對台灣投資「載台性質」武器系統，國軍反潛作戰能力能否抗衡共軍，引發熱議。

國防院國防戰略與資源研究所所長蘇紫雲表示，「它跟國軍既有的S-70不同的是，它的發動機出力，出力大的話，就可以讓它在艦艇著艦或離艦的時候，耐受更大的海象，也可以攜掛更多的反潛魚雷，或者是反艦飛彈，執行制海跟水下反制的攻潛作戰。」

學者分析，軍購案沒被判死期，還有溝通的空間，建議調整國防預算。至於新制教召第一批到了最後一天，邱國正認為好還要更好。不過，立委點出缺失，從教召到現役軍人的實彈射擊都不足，只會教臥射不符作戰需求，以及國軍疏於訓練城鎮戰，需要盡速改革。