Taiwan can pursue air denial without fifth-generation dominance

How can Taiwan contest China's qualitative air advantage without US fifth-generation fighters?

The air-denial scenario uses Taiwan's existing aircraft and missile defenses to disrupt Chinese formations, while fifth-generation aircraft enter the comparison with air dominance.

The required aircraft depend on whether Taiwan seeks air dominance or air denial. The F-22 Raptor is treated as the fifth-generation design most closely aligned with air defense, while the F-35 is a strike fighter that can also perform that role. Taiwan's existing aircraft and air-defense missiles are assessed for their ability to disrupt opposing formations. Future drone development is a possibility. Tempest is another prospective option in the discussion because of the roles it is intended to fill for Britain and Japan.