Taiwanese F-16 fighter jets locked on to Chinese combat aircraft with a targeting pod known as the "Sniper" during a Chinese military exercise near the island on Monday, a video has shown.
The aerial footage was released by Youth Daily News, a newspaper published by Taiwan's government that focuses on defense news. It showed the F-16 fighter jets employed the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod to monitor the movements of the Chinese J-15 fighter jets.
The ROC military has deployed appropriate forces to address the threats. Among them, F-16 fighter jets utilize the SNIPER ATP targeting pod to monitor the movements of the PLA 's J-15 fighter jets, steadfastly defending airspace security.
— Youth Daily News 青年日報 (@YDN_NEWS) October 14, 2024
#ROC#Taiwan#F-16#airforce pic.twitter.com/BLw0F0GrV9
On Monday the Chinese military conducted the large-scale exercise Joint Sword-2024B, where its army, navy, air force, and rocket force engaged in drills around Taiwan, focusing on patrol, blockades on key ports and areas, as well as assaults on sea and land targets.
The first operational Chinese aircraft carrier, CNS Liaoning, launched J-15 fighter jets in waters off Taiwan's east coast during the exercise. The carrier-based aircraft is capable of firing precision weapons, including missiles, and has an estimated range of 2,174 miles.
The Sniper is an airborne electro-optical targeting system developed by U.S. defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin. It can detect, track, and range for air and surface targets, as well as conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
According to the U.S. Air Force, the Sniper provides improved long-range target detection and identification and continuous stabilized surveillance, enabling aircrews to detect and identify weapon caches and individuals carrying armaments, all outside jet noise ranges.
Lockheed Martin said the pod is the most widely integrated targeting system in the world, having proven itself on multiple types of American and foreign combat aircraft, including the U.S.-origin F-16—of which the Taiwanese air force is one of its major operators.
The Pentagon in September 2011 announced an arms sale with an estimated cost of $5.3 billion for retrofitting the F-16 fleets of Taiwan. This military sale included the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod, which is designated AN/AAQ-33 in the U.S. military service.
"The improved capability, survivability, and reliability of newly retrofitted F-16A/B aircraft will greatly enhance the recipient's ability to defend its borders," the Pentagon said at the time, claiming the sale would assist in maintaining military balance in the region.
It was not clear where the encounter between the F-16 and the J-15 occurred. The Defense Ministry of Japan reported on Monday that the Liaoning was underway in waters southeast of Taiwan.
Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email.
Meanwhile, in another video published by Youth Daily News, the Taiwanese military sent the indigenously developed Rui Yuan drones for battlefield reconnaissance, where they monitored the Chinese naval and coast guard vessels in nearby waters in real-time.
The Navy is responding to the China's military exercises around the Taiwan Strait, with all officers and sailors on high alert. In addition to deploying Rui Yuan drones for battlefield reconnaissance, they are closely monitoring the movements of the PLA’s 617 'Jingdezhen' and the… pic.twitter.com/0ijVe6To0p
— Youth Daily News 青年日報 (@YDN_NEWS) October 14, 2024
On Tuesday, the Defense Ministry of Taiwan announced that 153 Chinese military aircraft operated around the island from 5 a.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday, of which 111 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and approached the airspace of Taiwan.
The Joint Sword-2024B lasted 13 hours, which began at 5 a.m. on Monday and ended at 6 p.m., according to announcements made by the Chinese military. During that period, 14 naval vessels and 12 official ships from China were underway in waters around Taiwan.