Taiwan wants to buy AV-8B Harrier vertical-takeoff jets from the US so that it will still have a functional Air Force if all of its bases are destroyed by missile attacks. Taiwan asked to buy a dozen P-3 Orions, but this deal has hit a problem in that all of the surplus Orions have been taken over by the US Customs Service. This will mean that another airframe type will have to be found and fitted with anti-submarine and maritime patrol equipment.--Stephen V Cole