Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced plans on January 30, 2026, evening to significantly expand hardened aircraft shelters at Chihhang Air Force Base (AFB) by 2028, aiming to protect future F-16C/D Block 70 fighters amid heightened focus from recent global drone attacks on airfields, according to TaiwanMonitor on X. The initiative prioritizes improving Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) survivability at major military bases, with a visualization shared by TaiwanMonitor detailing current levels of hardened protection across Taiwan's airbases. This development follows reports of drone strikes in global conflicts placing new emphasis on aircraft protection. Separate commentary on X from OSINTWarfare stated "Someone is definitely going to prison," without specifying context or connection to the defense plans.
