정찰기 대만공군 F-16, MS-110 정찰포드 장착

[위종민]

대만공군의 F-16AM이 콜린스 에어로스페이스의 MS-110 다중분광정찰포드를 장착한 사진이 공개됐네요. 2021년 7월 6개를 구매하는 계약이 체결됐었다고 합니다. 

AN/VDS-5 LOROP 포드를 대체할 예정이라고 합니다. 

대만, F-16 전투기용 MS-110 정찰 포드 인도받아

Roy Choo

2026년 8월 28일

대만의 개량형 F-16 가운데 한 대에 MS-110 정찰 포드가 장착된 모습이 포착된 것은 이 체계가 주문된 지 5년 만이다. (Peter Ho, Formosa Aviation & Military image press)

최근 며칠 사이 공개된 사진을 통해 대만이 콜린스 에어로스페이스의 MS-110 다중분광 정찰 포드를 인도받았다는 사실이 확인됐다.

중화민국 공군(ROCAF)의 F-16AM 한 대(기체번호 ‘6673’)가 8월 26일과 27일 이틀 연속으로 동체 중앙 장착대에 MS-110 포드를 탑재한 채 촬영됐으며, 비행시험을 위한 것으로 추정된다. 이 항공기는 대만 동부 해안 화롄에 있는 자산 공군기지에서 운용되고 있었다.

대만 국방부는 2021년 7월 MS-110 포드 6개를 구매하는 계약을 체결했다고 발표했으며, 이 획득사업에는 펑전 계획(Project Feng Zhen, Phoenix Scout)이라는 명칭이 붙었다.

이 체계들이 언제 인도됐는지, 그리고 6개가 모두 인도됐는지는 알려지지 않았다. 다만 현지 보도에 따르면 지난해부터 인도가 시작됐으며, 이후 지상시험과 인력 훈련이 진행돼왔다.

MS-110은 1990년대 후반과 2000년대 초반 펑옌 계획(Project Feng Yan, Phoenix Eye)을 통해 도입된 비슷한 수량의 AN/VDS-5 장거리 경사촬영 정찰(LOROP) 포드를 대체하게 된다. 이 LOROP 포드들은 화롄의 제12전술정찰단이 운용하는 F-16에 탑재돼 사용되고 있다.

AN/VDS-5 체계는 F-14에서 사용된 전술 공중정찰 포드 체계(TARPS)를 기반으로 한 것으로 추정되며, KS-87B 카메라와 KA-99A 파노라마 카메라, AN/AAD-5 적외선 카메라를 갖추고 있다. 이 체계는 현재 테르마로 알려진 덴마크 회사 페르 우드센이 제작한 모듈식 정찰 포드 안에 수용된다.

대만의 LOROP 포드는 수년에 걸쳐 개량된 것으로 여겨지며, 습식 필름 방식에서 디지털화된 전자광학 방식으로 발전해왔다. 보도에 따르면 이 포드가 촬영한 영상은 촬영과 동시에 지상국으로 전송할 수 있으며, 이는 2000년대 중후반 F-16에 추가된 링크 16 전술데이터링크를 통해 이뤄지는 것으로 추정된다.

F-16과 AN/VDS-5의 조합은 여러 평시 임무에서 효과적으로 활용돼왔다. 최근 몇 년 동안 이 항공기들은 대만 주변 해역을 통과하는 중국 인민해방군 해군 항공모함들을 대상으로 사진정찰 임무를 수행했다.

MS-110의 도입은 대만의 공중 사진정찰 임무 능력을 크게 향상시킬 것이다. 콜린스 에어로스페이스의 DB-110 LOROP 포드에서 파생된 이 체계에는 다중분광 능력이 추가됐다. 이를 통해 AN/VDS-5보다 더 멀고 넓은 범위를 감시할 수 있어, 대만은 중국 내륙을 더욱 깊숙이 들여다볼 수 있게 된다.

MS-110의 원거리 감시거리는 공개되지 않았지만, DB-110은 약 150km로 알려져 있다. 이는 일부 자료에서 100km 미만으로 언급되는 AN/VDS-5보다 상당히 긴 거리다.

MS-110의 다중분광 능력은 분석 과정에서 표적 식별과 탐지 능력도 향상시켜, 일반 영상에서는 드러나지 않을 수 있는 미묘한 특징을 식별하는 데 도움을 준다.

주야간과 모든 기상조건에서 영상을 촬영할 수 있는 MS-110의 능력 역시 야간 운용 능력이 더 제한적인 것으로 여겨지는 AN/VDS-5에 비해 큰 도약이다.

현재 인도가 진행 중인 중화민국 공군의 MQ-9B 무인항공기에도 MS-110 포드가 장착될지는 알려지지 않았다. 이 체계는 무인 플랫폼과 호환되지만 다른 형태의 외장 케이스를 사용한다.

이번 변화는 대만이 새로 도입하는 F-16C/D 블록 70 전투기 66대 가운데 첫 2대를 인도받을 준비를 하는 가운데 이뤄졌다.

Roy Choo

Taiwan receives MS-110 recce pods for its F-16 jets - Asian Military Review

Taiwan receives MS-110 recce pods for its F-16 jets - Asian Military Review

Taiwan receives MS-110 recce pods for its F-16 jets

By

 Roy Choo

 -

August 28, 2026

The appearance of the MS-110 reconnaissance pod on one of Taiwan’s upgraded F-16s comes five years after the system was ordered. (Peter Ho, Formosa Aviation & Military image press)

Photos in recent days have confirmed that Taiwan has received Collins Aerospace MS-110 multispectral reconnaissance pods.

A Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) F-16AM (tail number ‘6673’) was photographed on consecutive days, 26 and 27 August, carrying an MS-110 pod on its centreline station, presumably for flight testing. It was operating from Chiashan Air Force Base in Hualien on Taiwan’s east coast.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense announced that it had signed a contract to purchase six MS-110 pods in July 2021, with the acquisition programme designated Project Feng Zhen (Phoenix Scout).

It is not known when the systems were delivered or whether all six have been received, although a local report indicated that deliveries began last year, with ground testing and personnel training taking place since then.

The MS-110 will replace a similar number of AN/VDS-5 long-range, oblique, reconnaissance (LOROP) pods procured in the late 1990s and early 2000s under Project Feng Yan (Phoenix Eye). These LOROPs are flown on F-16s operated by the 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Group at Hualien.

The AN/VDS-5 system is thought to be based on the Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) used on the F-14 and featuring a KS-87B camera, KA-99A panoramic camera and AN/AAD-5 infrared camera. The system is housed in a Modular Reconnaissance Pod manufactured by Danish company Per Udsen, now known as Terma.

Taiwan’s LOROP pods are believed to have been upgraded over the years, evolving from wet-film systems to digitised electro-optical systems. Reportedly, images captured by the pods can be transmitted to a ground station as they are taken, possibly through the Link 16 tactical data link added to F-16s in the mid-to-late 2000s.

The F-16 and AN/VDS-5 combination has been put to good use in a number of peacetime missions. In recent years, the aircraft have conducted photo reconnaissance missions against People’s Liberation Army Navy aircraft carriers as they passed through waters around Taiwan.

The arrival of the MS-110 will represent a significant enhancement to Taiwan’s airborne photo reconnaissance missions. The system, which is derived from Collins Aerospace’s DB-110 LOROP pod, adds a multispectral capability. This offers a farther and broader range of surveillance than the AN/VDS-5, allowing Taiwan to peer deeper into China.

While the MS-110’s standoff range has not been disclosed, that of the DB-110 has been publicised at about 150km – significantly greater than the AN/VDS-5, which some sources have stated has a range of less than 100km.

The multispectral capabilities of the MS-110 also improve target discrimination and detection during analysis, helping to identify subtle characteristics that may not be apparent in conventional imagery.

The MS-110’s ability to capture imagery day or night and in all weather conditions also represents a major leap over the AN/VDS-5, which is thought to have a more limited capability at night.

It is unknown whether the ROCAF’s MQ-9B unmanned aerial vehicles, of which the service is currently taking delivery, will be equipped with the MS-110 pod too. The system is compatible with the unmanned platform, although it uses a different housing design.

This development comes as Taiwan prepares to receive the first pair of its 66 new F-16C/D Block 70 aircraft.

by Roy Choo

Global ISR Sensors and Software | Raytheon

Multispectral Imaging