Taiwan Receives First U.S. Anti-Submarine Aircraft

Taiwan today received the first of 12 anti-submarine aircraft from the United States, as it beefs up its naval defenses against China.

The other 11 planes are scheduled for delivery by 2015, Taiwan military official was quoted as saying by AFP.

The U.S. agreed in 2007 to sell Taiwan the refurbished P-3C Orion patrol aircraft, which reportedly will expand the surveillance range of Taipei's anti-submarine fleet tenfold.

The P-3C fleet, which will cost around $1.96 billion, is intended to replace the island's ageing S-2T anti-submarine aircraft to carry out maritime patrol and reconnaissance.

Taiwan has built up a defense force equipped with weapons acquired mostly from the United States, despite Washington's switching diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, the report added.