Tour at Hsinchu air base gives rare up-close look at Mirage 2000s

Today reporters were invited in for a tour of the Hsinchu Air Force Base. During the open house, Taiwan''s air defense system was put through its paces. A key line of defense at the base is the French-made Mirage 2000 jet, which can be up in the air within six minutes of an intruder alert. Today reporters got a rare up-close look at the Mirage fighter as it sprung into action on the tarmac. The Mirage 2000 fighter jet charges ahead at full throttle and lifts off into the sky. Up close, it''s almost too much for the eyes and ears to take in.The afterburner ignites, discharging a jet of flames reaching 1,200 degrees Celsius. It provides a thrust that lets the fighter jet take off nearly instantly to intercept danger. Amid the rising military threat from China, Taiwan''s air force is on high alert. That''s especially the case at its Hsinchu air base, which lies closest China.Li I-hsiuAir Force Squadron 41 fighter pilotWe are in the preparatory stage. For 24 hours a day year round, including the Lunar New Year, there are troops stationed at the end of the airport runway. If there is any emergency, we can complete take-off in six minutes.Technicians lift up the body of the plane to replace an old tire. Then, they load the weapons.The soldiers follow orders and attach Mica and Magic missiles to the jet. Last year, the PLA had said it could easily take over the Hsinchu air base. Taiwan''s military has been strengthening its defense at the site, where even flight demonstrations are carried out with live ammunition.

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