台與法簽署逾56億幻象機零附件採購

choi

Today's news first.

(1) 羅添斌, 我與法簽署逾56億零附件採購 幻象戰機維持妥善率有解. Liberty Times, Feb 24, 2018.
http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/paper/1234405

Note:
(a) This seems to be a scoop; no other news outlets in Taiwan report this.
(b) On Dec 7, 2017 a Mirage disappeared off Keelung 基隆市, and Taiwan's military insisted the fighter jet was on the seabed, claiming detections of pings from black box. In the end, it could not find the jet or the pilot.
(c) "我國總計向法國採購六十架幻象戰機，全數部署在空軍新竹基地。官員表示，幻象戰機在台服役已有二十年，在陳水扁執政期間，台法雙方曾秘密觸及採購「飆風」戰機取代幻象戰機的洽談，但在陳水扁卸任後，這項向法國採購新式戰機的計畫從此胎死腹中，後續又因台法為了幻象戰機採購涉及不當佣金案的訴訟影響，讓幻象戰機的性能提升計畫也無從進行。"
(i)
(A) Dassault Mirage 2000
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_2000
(single-engine 4th-generation; "In response to mainland China's purchase of the Su-27 [deliveries started in 1991: Wikipedia], the Republic of China (Taiwan) entered into talks with the US and France about the possible purchase of new fighters. While the US would oppose Taiwan's acquisition of the Mirage 2000 and instead pressure it to procure the F-16, in November 1992, the Republic of China Air Force became the first customer for the Mirage 2000-5 [soon after the 200-5's creation] * * * [They] were delivered" in 1997 and 1998)

"While the US would oppose Taiwan's acquisition of the Mirage 2000." On the contrary, Taiwan has said to its citizens that US balked lest China be antagonized, until in part spurred by the Mirage deal (to provide political cover or stimulate competitive spirit), George HW Bush allowed sale of F-16A/Bs  months before his 1992 re-election bid. I do not know where the truth lies.
(B) In 1929 Marcel Bloch founded Dassault Aviation (under another name; presently based in Paris). "He [birth name Marcel Bloch] changed his [surname] name from Bloch to Bloch-Dassault and in 1949 to Dassault. Dassault was the alias used by his brother, General Darius Paul Bloch, when he served in the French resistance [during WWII], and is derived from char d'assaut, French for 'battle tank.' "  en.wikipedia.org for Marcel Dassault (which shows his offspring-- who were billionaires -- surnamed Dassault). His older brother Darius Paul also changed the surname to Dassault.)

English male given name Mark is derived from Roman male given name Marcus. French male given name Marcel (feminine: Marcelle) is from Roman male given name Marcellus. Both Roman given names are about god of Mars.

The Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname Bloch for someone in Eastern Europe originating from Italy, from Polish wloch, meaning 'Italian' (originally 'foreigner.' " Dictionary of American Family Names, by Oxford University Press.  (The above Wiki page for Dessault founder says he was Jewish. The Jewish brothers Henry and Richard Bloch founded H&R Block in 1955 (in Kansas City, Kansas -- then and now; the brothers chose k to ensure correct pronunciation of their last name (similar to Koch, a german surname which American pronounce ch as k.)
(C) The French noun masculine for battle tank is char de combat (plural: chars de combat), also known as char de bataille and char d'assaut.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Char_de_combat
(D) There is no (Modern) French word assault -- only assaut. This is confirmed in

Darius Paul Dassault - Biography. JewAge, undated
www.jewage.org/wiki/he/Articlearius_Paul_Dassault_-_Biography
("His alias Dassault developed when he was in the French Résistance. The name alludes to the code name 'Chardasso' and is derived from 'char d'assaut,' the French term for 'tank' ")
(E) English etymology:
* Both English nouns car and chariot were borrowed from French (Old Northern French carre; Old French chariot), ultimately from Latin noun masculine "carrum, carrus (plural carra) two-wheeled Celtic war chariot."
https://www.etymonline.com/word/car?ref=etymonline_crossreference
* assault
https://www.etymonline.com/word/assault
("from Latin [noun masculine] saltus a leap, from [Latin verb] salire to leap, spring")

The English verb assail has exactly the same Latin root ad + salire.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assail
(Did You Know?)
* The word combat in Modern French (noun masculine and verb) and English (noun and verb) are ultimately "from Latin com- with + [verb] battuere to beat, strike."  Wiktionary.
* The English noun battle is from Middle and Old French battaille (Modern French noun feminine is also spelled battaille, which in turn is from Latin noun feminine battalia [plural: battaliae] battle: "alteration of [noun feminine] battualia fencing exercises [by gladiators], from Latin [verb] battuere to beat."
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/battle
(ii)
(A) Dassault Rafale
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Rafale
(twin-engine; Introduction 2000; single-or twin-seat depending on models)
(B) French-English dictionary:
* rafale (noun feminine; origin unknown): "gust (of wind)"
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rafale

choi

(2) Mike Yeo, Taiwan Fighter Jets Get New Electronic Warfare Capabilities in Latest Upgrade. Defense News, Dec 21, 2017.
https://www.defensenews.com/air/ ... -in-latest-upgrade/

Note:
(a) This report is about IDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo 經國號戰機, "commonly known as the Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF)." en.wikipedia.org.  The state-owned Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) 漢翔航空工業股份有限公司 is the manufacturer (production for A/B  1990-2000: Wikipedia).
(b) However, its did have two paragraphs about Mirage.

(c) For year I have failed to find out how the fighter got its name "F-CK."
(i) One way to euphemize fuck is "f-ck." See
Harold Hutchison, How Enemy Aircraft Get Their American Nicknames. We Are the Mighty (name of the website), Feb 14, 2018
https://www.wearethemighty.com/h ... -american-nicknames
("when we're talking Chinese or Russian aircraft, they've got some odd-sounding names. Fishbed, Flanker, Backfire, Bear, Badger… you may be wondering, 'how the f*ck did they get that name?' ")

When it was republished the next day with consent, it became:
https://www.wearethemighty.com/h ... -american-nicknames
("when we're talking Chinese or Russian aircraft, they've got some odd-sounding names. Fishbed, Flanker, Backfire, Bear, Badger… you may be wondering, 'how the f-ck did they get that name?' ")
(A) A Flanker fighter is Sukhoil Su-27.

In American football, a flanker is also called a wide receiver. See American football positions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football_positions
(B) Fishbed was for Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21. Its definition is:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fishbed
(ii)
(A) I finally discover what F-CK stands for. See ZHAO Yi, F-CK-1 Ching Kuo & B-52 Stratofortress. STEAM, May 20, 2017
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=929433611
("Trivia[:] * * * F-CK-1 Ching Kuo meaning 'Fighter, Ching Kuo-1' and Ching Kuo name from Taiwan president")
(B) That does not stop the misuse -- or abuse. See Joseph Trevithick, That One Time Lockheed Hated on the Taiwanese Air Force. War Is Boring, Mar 7, 2015
https://medium.com/war-is-boring ... -force-321bb2ac778e
("In 1984, Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation started developing the Ching-kuos after Washington refused to sell the more powerful American fighters. As a small consolation, American defense contractors helped design the aircraft, also known as the Indigenous Defense Fighter or IDF.  The resulting F-CK-1s don't have the F-16's range and can't carry as much weaponry. The Ching-Kuos have two engines—modified civilian designs—that don't produce as much thrust as the  [F-16]  Falcon's single jet motor.  'Its name says it all,' Lockheed chided, referring to the the F-CK. 'This could best be described as the best aircraft the US State Department ever designed' ")

(d) Tim Hepher, Airbus Ordered to Pay 104 Million Euros to Settle Taiwan Missile Dispute. Reuters,
http://www.yilubbs.com/forum.php ... ewthread&fid=61
(in an arbitration; mentioned Taiwan's fining three French companies earlier)

There is no news reports about follow-up of either event.