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The Han Kuang live-fire drills are underway and run until Friday. In today’s exercises, fighter jets descended on a stretch of freeway in Changhua County as they completed emergency landings. A crowd gathered to watch the fleet land and then take off on a road that’s half the size of a standard runway. This part of National Freeway No. 1 is one of five sections of freeway that fighter jets can use as an emergency runway if they lose access to an air base. completed perfect landings here on this strip of freeway in Changhua, before pulling to a stop for their next orders.The CH47 transport helicopter with a cargo of supplies entered the mock battle zone. Soldiers filled up the tanks of the combat aircraft and installed harpoon missiles and other weaponry.Fighter jets provided cover overhead, and the AH-1W Super Cobra and OH-58D were on high alert. On the ground, the troops readied anti-aircraft weaponry and Patriot missiles for enemy engagement.A range of fighter jets completed emergency take-offs on runways half the standard length. Twelve years after the last time drills were held at this Changhua runway, Taiwan’s F-16V made their first public appearance. It was a major milestone for military buffs, who staked out their spots as early as 3 a.m. to capture the moment on camera.Lin Yu-hsiangAirmanAs far as the current F-16V is concerned, its weapons interface has been upgraded from the specifications of the fleet originally purchased. That’s allowed the F-16V to successfully complete the tasks in its mission here in Changhua.Tsai Ing-wenPresidentAs we face major changes in the international situation, national security is coming up against increasingly complicated challenges. The ultimate goal of national defense is to protect the sovereignty of the nation and the social values of a liberal democracy. Today’s exercises will allow the Taiwanese people to see that the armed forces are absolutely capable of reaching this goal.The freeway strip in Changhua is one of five emergency runways that can be used in the event of air bases being destroyed in battle. One is on the Ping-E Highway. The others are on National Highway No. 1.