Source:Ministry of National Defense R.O.C - Military New Update(Oct. 24,2026)

Source:Ministry of National Defense R.O.C - Military New Update(Oct. 23,2026)

★ Aviation Combat Camp and Aviation Technology Combat Camp Dates:

July 20 (Monday) to July 24 (Friday), 2026.

☆ Registration

Registration is conducted online. Only a limited number of spots are available and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

★ Registration Hours

From 18:00 on May 26, 2026 to 17:00 on June 15, 2026.

☆Eligibility

1. Applicants must be citizens of the Republic of China, and must not hold a PRC resident identity card, permanent resident permit, or passport. A signed declaration form must be provided for verification.

2. Applicants must be graduating junior high school students or currently enrolled students who are at least 15 years old but under 32 years old.

★Registration website/event information

https://gpwd.mnd.gov.tw/Publish.aspx?cnid=107&p=8079

This year's summer combat camp took place at the ROC Air Force Academy and the Air Force Institute of Technology, with a series of courses held in Chiayi, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, and Penghu. Despite the hot weather, the students remained enthusiastic and eager. In addition to displays of the F-16, UH-60M, S-70C-6, EC-225, AT-3, AJT, and Striker 3000 fire trucks, the camp also featured a variety of engaging activities, including sounding balloon launches, innovative robot races, search-and-rescue courses, drone operations, and flight instrument training. These activities allowed students to gain a better understanding and appreciation of national defense. Notably, the camps included a flight aboard a C-130H transport aircraft to visit the Magong Base Service Group and the 9th Weather Center stationed in Penghu. Visits to historical military sites such as the Wanjun Well and the Qing Dynasty city walls left a lasting impression on the students, further deepening their understanding of national defense and cultural heritage.

This year’s summer combat camps provided students with firsthand experience through hands-on exercises, military equipment displays, and specialized courses, offering them an opportunity to observe and learn about ROCAF’s military capabilities and national defense policies. These experiences not only enhanced their appreciation of ROCAF’s expertise but also sparked their interest in pursuing military careers, thereby laying a strong foundation for future recruitment.

To enhance flight safety management, ROCAF Chief Gen. Cheng recently visited the Tainan and Hualien areas to preside over the Flight Safety Seminar. The event reviewed and analyzed flight safety cases from the past few years and sought to strengthen risk management awareness among commanders at all levels, pilots, and maintenance personnel through discussion.

Gen. Cheng stressed that flight safety is fundamental to the duties of commanders at all levels and crucial to maintaining a unit’s combat capabilities. Therefore, commanders at all levels should strive to foster a culture that emphasizes flight safety and risk control. By taking an active approach to identifying and addressing risk factors, flight safety can be further enhanced through greater risk awareness.

Gen. Cheng urged all service members to develop regular exercise habits and maintain healthy daily routines, which are part of the professional responsibility of flight personnel. He stressed that everyone must fully understand their own capabilities and limitations and work to improve their weaknesses. Furthermore, Gen. Cheng reminded commanders at all levels to adhere to strict standards when conducting evaluations. By implementing flight training and supervisory mechanisms, the professionalism of service members can be significantly enhanced. Finally, he reminded all service members that“there is no gray area when it comes to flight safety” and urged everyone to prioritize safety to strengthen ROCAF’s overall combat capabilities.

Drones have become widely used in the Russia-Ukraine War and conflicts in the Middle East. To test the capabilities of the Counter-UAS Defense System (UDS), ROCAF recently conducted a drone attack-and-defense exercise in the Chiayi area to assess defensive and offensive capabilities, followed by a review presided over by Gen. Cheng. This review included members from the Air Force Education, Training, and Doctrines Development Command; Air Defense and Missile Command; and commanding officers from each tactical fighter wing. In addition, representatives from the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) and private sector partners also attended to discuss future improvements.

ROCAF Chief Gen. Cheng stated that the exercise had taken into account the number and types of drones, as well as the complexity of the drills, which were designed to test the limits of both offensive and defensive capabilities. Each exercise underwent tabletop exercises before proceeding to the field exercise phase for validation. By repeatedly conducting and reviewing such exercises, units will be able to identify issues and improve their defensive capabilities, thereby honing their skills into a formidable fighting force.

Gen. Cheng thanked NCSIST and private sector partners for their full support. He further highlighted how base defenses relied on Taiwan’s manufacturing and technology industries, and how relevant frameworks could be improved by integrating technological developments with military needs. In addition, Gen. Cheng reminded participating units to submit in-depth improvement reports after reviewing equipment deployment, command and control, and response measures of the exercise. Such actions will effectively enhance capabilities to counter drone threats.

As Father’s Day draws near, ROCAF Political Warfare Director Lt. Gen. Yu visited the Taipei and Hualien-Taitung Areas to commend the Model Father recipients for their selfless devotion to raising their children. On behalf of the Ministry of National Defense, Lt. Gen. Yu presented the 2026 Model Father Award and gifts to Chen Ching-jih, Chen Chin-chang, and Wu Shih-wen, thanking them for raising their children responsibly and encouraging them to join the military to serve the nation, thereby demonstrating love and devotion to their children.

The three recipients have shouldered family responsibilities for many years, maintaining a simple yet positive attitude in raising their children. Their selflessness enabled their children to grow up with integrity, a sense of responsibility, and patriotism. Under their fathers’ careful guidance, their children have remained dedicated to their posts and faithfully fulfilled their duties since joining the military, demonstrating the strong values and character instilled in them by their families.

Lt. Gen. Yu remarked on the importance of fathers in every family. By leading by example, these three fathers instilled the values of love and duty in their children and served as role models for others to follow. Lt. Gen. Yu also encouraged all service members to cherish their families and remain grateful, turning their families’ support into motivation to devote themselves to training and combat readiness and to safeguarding their homeland, while contributing to national security and social stability.

ROCAF Chief Gen. Cheng recently inspected the Han Kuang 42 exercises in the Chiayi region, which included simulated drone attacks, to understand training and defense measures. Following his observations of units responding to drone attacks, Gen. Cheng provided guidance on training scenarios, equipment employment, and coordination mechanisms. In addition, Gen. Cheng noted how threats to bases had drastically increased due to the increased use of drones in modern warfare. Thus, he emphasized that substantial changes, rather than mere formalities, were necessary to identify and resolve issues. In addition, by integrating early warning capabilities of the Information, Communications, and Electronic Force Command, technological developments from the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology and industry, and ground defense forces to enhance overall effectiveness.

Gen. Cheng stressed that combat readiness must be integrated into daily operations. The end of a military exercise symbolizes the beginning of reviews and improvements. He urged commanders at all levels to incorporate the results of the exercise into training programs and tactical doctrines. As military personnel familiarize themselves with new equipment and response procedures, they will be able to gradually refine their skills through experience. By translating practical experience into actionable combat readiness capabilities, units can respond rapidly to contingencies and firmly safeguard air defense security.

ROCAF Chief Gen. Cheng recently inspected the combat readiness of forces in Northern Taiwan, gaining insights into how each unit was performing during the Han Kuang 42 field training exercises. In addition to being briefed on equipment capabilities and command and control procedures, Gen. Cheng also observed the training of participating reservists as well as counter-drone operational procedures.

During his inspection, Gen. Cheng reminded commanders at all levels to control risk by being aware of their personnel at all times, noting that operations could only be executed smoothly if safety is prioritized. Finally, Gen. Cheng commended participating personnel for their commitment to training and thanked them for their efforts in performing their duties.

Recently, ROCAF Chief Gen. Cheng visited the National Defense University’s (NDU) Main (Bade) Campus to deliver a speech to the 2026 classes of the NDU’s War College and Management College Strategic Course, as well as students from the Air Command and Staff College. Gen. Cheng congratulated and commended the students on completing their studies, and encouraged them to apply what they have learned to their duties and gain more experience in senior staff positions. These experiences will enable them to broaden their international perspectives and stay up to date with the latest technological developments. Such efforts will form the cornerstone of ROCAF’s future combat readiness.

Gen. Cheng emphasized that in the face of a rapidly changing environment, it is crucial to understand international developments, the Indo-Pacific regional situation, and the PLA’s military intentions, while actively fostering a global perspective and strategic vision. Furthermore, given the rapid pace of technological development, continued research and development of AI applications for manned and unmanned combat operations are necessary. He also noted the importance of establishing logistics sustainability and resilience, as well as enhancing the integration of air defense systems. Finally, information security and signal management must be robust to prevent sensitive military information from being compromised.

Gen. Cheng emphasized that mid-level officers must continuously refine their leadership and management capabilities and manage units in accordance with the system. By leading by example and fostering a positive work environment built on trust, camaraderie among service members can be greatly strengthened. He urged everyone to apply what they have learned upon returning to their respective units, and to make improvements by starting with themselves. Such efforts will enhance their professional expertise and undoubtedly contribute to ROCAF’s future development.

The R.O.C. Air Force Headquarters recently held the “Flying High 2026” Concert at the Taipei Zhongshan Hall, where Gen. Cheng joined military personnel and civilians in enjoying a captivating performance by the CAF band.

The performance featured both classic military music and popular melodies. The first half included pieces such as Festive Overture, Lux Aurumque, and a clarinet solo, while the second half featured The Phantom of the Opera, The Legend of the Flying Tigers: The First Thunder Under Iron Wings, and the majestic Air Force Anthem. The exciting and heartwarming performance showcased ROCAF’s excellence in both military professionalism and cultural achievement. After the concert, Gen. Cheng thanked Mr. Hou Yu-biao, praised the CAF Band’s excellent performance, and expressed his appreciation to all band members for their hard work.

The CAF Band not only performs at major ceremonies and important military events, but also uses its unique capabilities to strengthen military public relations and national unity. Through captivating musical performances, the Air Force Band conveys to audiences its dedication and commitment to defending the nation.

To uphold ROCAF’s values of loyalty and courage, and carry on the Jianqiao Spirit, ROCAF recently held a ceremony celebrating the 89th Anniversary of the August 14 Air Victory and recognizing service members for their exemplary performance. The ceremony was presided over by ROCAF Chief Gen. Cheng and attended by senior officers and military personnel. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of Air Force Headquarters, the 85th anniversary of the American Volunteer Group (or “Flying Tigers”), and the 75th anniversary of the 34th Squadron (or “Black Bat Squadron”). At this significant historical juncture, ROCAF reflected on the heroic deeds of its forebears and reaffirmed its commitment to honoring their glorious legacy, inspiring service members to continue striving for excellence and achieving greater accomplishments, while working tirelessly to build a formidable Air Force for the new century.

The ceremony began with the reading of a congratulatory letter from Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo. Following this, Gen. Cheng presented certificates and monetary awards to outstanding ROCAF units, exemplary service members, other award recipients, and the top three performers in the logistics skills competition. He also commended military units recognized for excellence in training, and presented trophies to the winning sports teams. These awards recognized service members for their dedication and diligence in performing their respective duties.

In his speech, Gen. Cheng highlighted the historical significance of the August 14 Air Battle, recalling that 89 years ago, Commander Gao Zhihang successfully led his group in repelling invading enemy forces. Their actions demonstrated their unwavering loyalty to the nation and successfully secured air superiority at a critical moment. Gen. Cheng further commended the award recipients for their commitment and dedication. He noted that “loyalty to the nation and duty, courage in shouldering responsibility, and willingness to make sacrifices” are the proud core values that every ROCAF service member must keep close to heart. In the face of increasingly frequent PRC gray zone incursions and military threats, ROCAF must strive to conduct unscripted and realistic combat training to enhance its response capabilities. In addition, ROCAF must keep pace with developments in new equipment and AI technology while continuously enhancing personnel expertise and training.

Gen. Cheng also encouraged all service members to maintain faith in both their nation and families, remain vigilant against enemy activities, carefully verify information they receive to prevent the spread of misinformation, and strictly adhere to confidentiality protocols. He urged them to uphold high moral standards and strive for excellence in their respective roles, thereby strengthening the Air Force as it approaches its 90th anniversary. To conclude the event, Gen. Cheng led all attendees in reciting the military code of conduct and singing the Air Force Anthem, thereby fostering unity and carrying on the proud traditions of loyalty and courage.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, Mr. Ho, Kun-Lung, a director at ZYFX Technologies Inc., led a delegation to the Air Force Headquarters to present a donation in support of military personnel. The delegation was warmly received by ROCAF Chief Gen. Cheng. During the visit, both parties exchanged views on the development of communications technology and its applications in national defense. Gen. Cheng noted that communications are a crucial foundation for command and control (C2), and expressed his hope that continued collaboration between the private sector and the defense industry would lead to stronger C2 capabilities.

Additionally, Gen. Cheng thanked ZYFX Technologies Inc. for its longstanding support of the military and its dedication to developing related technologies. Mr. Ho, in turn, expressed his heartfelt respect for ROCAF personnel for their tireless efforts to maintain combat readiness and their commitment to their duties, praising them for defending the nation’s airspace and safeguarding national security. Mr. Ho also expressed his hope that continued collaboration between the military and the public would establish a stronger foundation for national defense.

ROCAF Chief Gen. Cheng, accompanied by Lt. Gen. Yu and other senior officers, recently visited the ROCAF Martyrs’ Cemetery in Bitan, Xindian, New Taipei City, to preside over the 2026 Autumn Memorial Ceremony and pay his respects to fallen Air Force heroes.

As the officiant, Gen. Cheng led the delegation in offering incense and flowers, delivering a eulogy, and paying their respects to the fallen. He expressed his utmost respect for the fallen heroes, honoring their sacrifices and contributions to the nation. Finally, Gen. Cheng visited the cemetery and the Martyrs’ Memorial Tower, where he extended condolences to the families in attendance on behalf of ROCAF.

ROCAF Chief Gen. Cheng recently presided over the 2026 Air Force Forward-Looking Force Development and Military Space Development Seminar, which focused on space technologies and featured experts from the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA), the Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), and various research institutes and universities. The seminar discussed the development and military applications of space technologies. By fostering dialogue among experts from different fields, the seminar aimed to broaden ROCAF personnel’s understanding of the space domain, enabling them to examine future operational requirements and force development directions, bringing fresh perspectives to ROCAF’s future planning and preparations.

During his opening remarks, Gen. Cheng highlighted that, as countries around the world continue to expand their presence in the space domain, space technologies have become indispensable in modern warfare. Therefore, ROCAF must closely follow developments in space technology while strengthening its air combat capabilities, preparing for future challenges.

Gen. Cheng noted that personnel training, organizational structure, and interdisciplinary collaboration are vital to establishing formidable space combat capabilities. Personnel training can be achieved through student exchanges, training collaborations, and advanced studies. Organizational structures can be adjusted as needed to meet evolving requirements, while refining specialized positions and personnel assignments will enable those who have completed their training to apply what they have learned in roles suited to their expertise. Lastly, interdisciplinary collaboration involves partnerships with TASA and universities, which can accelerate research and military applications by pooling national resources, technological capabilities and research findings.

Finally, Gen. Cheng thanked everyone for attending and engaging in in-depth discussions. He expressed that such exchanges would contribute to future space technology development and serve as a valuable reference for future force development efforts. Looking ahead, ROCAF will continue to closely monitor developments in space technology and AI, expand personnel training, and strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration. By moving beyond existing frameworks, ROCAF will apply the seminar's findings to its force development and combat readiness efforts, transforming itself into a technologically advanced force prepared to meet future challenges.

ROCAF Chief Gen. Cheng recently presided over the 2026 Joint Opening Ceremony of the ROC Air Force Academy and Air Force Institute of Technology for Officers and NCOs in Kaohsiung. Gen. Cheng thanked the instructors and teachers for their dedication to education and extended his early wishes for a Happy Teachers’ Day. In addition, Gen. Cheng welcomed ROCAF’s newest cadets and encouraged them to strive for excellence. He expressed his firm belief that ROCAF’s rigorous military training would lay a solid foundation for their future careers.

Gen. Cheng highlighted that, amid the rapid evolution of military technology, AI, drones, information warfare, and other emerging technologies have transformed the modern battlefield. Therefore, ROCAF is actively training personnel to keep pace with these technological developments and aims to broaden its cadets’ horizons through reading, language skills development, and diverse learning experiences.

Furthermore, Gen. Cheng reminded everyone that beyond professional expertise, true excellence also requires discipline and ethics, and encouraged all cadets to embrace the academic and training challenges ahead. Lastly, Gen. Cheng urged faculty members to help newcomers adjust to their new environment, foster a positive academy culture, and pass on ROCAF's spirit of loyalty and valor.

ROCAF Chief Gen. Cheng recently presided over the Pilot Training Graduation Ceremony for Class B of 2024 and Class A of 2025, where he pinned pilot wings on the graduating officers, recognizing their achievements and congratulating them as they embark on their flying careers.

Gen. Cheng noted that pilot wings are not simply a symbol of professional expertise but also represent a commitment to defending national airspace. He encouraged the graduating officers to remain steadfast in their convictions in the face of adversity.

Gen. Cheng stressed that flight safety must always be the top priority during flight missions, with the objective of achieving zero errors and zero accidents. He reminded everyone to maintain discipline and constant vigilance, and to adhere to standard operating procedures during training and combat readiness missions. He also encouraged the graduating officers to continue honing their flying skills, foreign language proficiency, and response capabilities. Furthermore, he reminded them to maintain their physical fitness and prepare for the challenges ahead.

Lastly, Gen. Cheng thanked all instructors and the graduating officers’ families for their steadfast support. He expressed his hope that the new pilots would uphold ROCAF’s ethos of loyalty and bravery, continuously pursue excellence, fulfill their commitments and carry forward the Jianqiao spirit.

The MND’s procurement of four MQ-9B HALE UAVs stemmed from growing hostile threats and national defense concerns. In response, the United States plans to deliver two UAVs in 2026 and two in 2027 to enhance operational effectiveness.

Both Vice Minister Hsu and Ambassador Yui personally tried the UAV flight simulator, experiencing its advanced reconnaissance capabilities firsthand. They then proceeded to the runway to personally welcome the UAV upon its landing and took a commemorative photograph together.

The MND thanked the U.S. Government, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, and many others for their support in the procurement. The MND will continue to work closely with the United States to facilitate future production through security cooperation mechanisms, thereby strengthening national defense.

In addition to taking a photograph with the assembled aircraft, the delegation also inspected the production status of the aircraft ordered for ROCAF. Lockheed Martin noted that it had already assigned hundreds of personnel to the production line. With the production line fully staffed and equipped, two shifts worked tirelessly to ensure that production would be completed on schedule. As the F-16 Block 70 is specifically designed for Taiwan, the compatibility of its systems, wiring, and software must be continuously tested and adjusted, with any necessary modifications also made to the production line. Such procedures are absolutely necessary to ensure the quality of the assembled aircraft and the safety of the pilots.

Assembled aircraft that have completed Lockheed Martin’s acceptance check flights will undergo a final acceptance check flight by the U.S. Government before being delivered to Taiwan later in 2026.

The MND noted that the delivery of the aircraft will be accelerated through R.O.C.–U.S. security cooperation mechanisms.