Taiwan Unveils New Advanced Trainer
by Jon Lake
- September 26, 2019, 3:23 AM
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Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen sits in the cockpit of the first XAT-5 prototype during the unveiling ceremony. (photo: AIDC) |
Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC), the state-owned aerospace company overseen by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, has rolled out the first XAT-5 prototype of its new AT-5 Yung Yin (Brave Eagle) Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT). The ceremony took place on September 24, attended by President Tsai Ing-wen. Formerly known as the Blue Magpie, the AT-5 was re-named following a public competition.
The AJT program is intended to provide a replacement for the Republic of China Air Force’s (RoCAF) fleet of Northrop F-5 advanced trainers and indigenous AIDC AT-3 basic trainers, which are scheduled for retirement in the early 2020s.
Initially, Taiwan planned to acquire 66 Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Masters to meet the AJT requirement, signing a $2.1 billion MoU (memorandum of understanding) with Finmeccanica in 2014, after also evaluating the South Korean KAI T-50 Golden Eagle. Italy was to have built the first four to six aircraft with the rest being assembled in Taiwan with 50 percent Taiwanese-made components and extensive technology transfer.
The AJT program is intended to provide a replacement for the Republic of China Air Force’s (RoCAF) fleet of Northrop F-5 advanced trainers and indigenous AIDC AT-3 basic trainers, which are scheduled for retirement in the early 2020s.
Initially, Taiwan planned to acquire 66 Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Masters to meet the AJT requirement, signing a $2.1 billion MoU (memorandum of understanding) with Finmeccanica in 2014, after also evaluating the South Korean KAI T-50 Golden Eagle. Italy was to have built the first four to six aircraft with the rest being assembled in Taiwan with 50 percent Taiwanese-made components and extensive technology transfer.
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Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Masters |
When the newly elected President Tsai Ing-wen took office, her strongly nationalist Democratic Progressive Party government pledged that Taiwan would develop its own advanced trainer aircraft. Leonardo-Finmeccanica reportedly reduced the price of its M346 offer by about 25 percent, but this new offer was rejected.
Taiwan considered a modernized AT-3 MAX with a lightweight composite airframe, a glass cockpit, upgraded avionics, increased thrust, and an integrated training system, before settling on the AT-5, a simplified derivative of the existing two-seat operational conversion trainer version of the indigenous F-CK-1 IDF Ching Kuo fighter. AIDC had been offering simplified versions of the IDF for Lead-In Fighter Training (LIFT) for some 20 years, but the AT-5 represents an all-new take on this approach. It was formally selected in 2017, and construction of the first prototype began in June 2018.
Taiwan considered a modernized AT-3 MAX with a lightweight composite airframe, a glass cockpit, upgraded avionics, increased thrust, and an integrated training system, before settling on the AT-5, a simplified derivative of the existing two-seat operational conversion trainer version of the indigenous F-CK-1 IDF Ching Kuo fighter. AIDC had been offering simplified versions of the IDF for Lead-In Fighter Training (LIFT) for some 20 years, but the AT-5 represents an all-new take on this approach. It was formally selected in 2017, and construction of the first prototype began in June 2018.
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XAT-5 AJT Advanced Jet Trainer |
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The AT-5 and its associated training system were designed by the Taoyuan-based National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology [NCSIST], the Ministry of National Defence’s R&D agency, which will subcontract manufacture to the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation at Taichung.
Compared to the Ching Kuo fighter, the AT-5 has 80 percent new-design components, will make greater use of composites, and will have derated F125 engines without afterburning, limiting it to subsonic/transonic speeds in level flight. The aircraft will also have greater internal fuel capacity than the operational variant, but may not carry underwing fuel tanks. The airfoil will have a revised, slightly thicker section for lower approach and landing speeds, while the landing gear will also be redesigned. The internal cannon will be deleted, though there will be provision for armament (probably including a gun pod) and the aircraft will feature a new AESA radar and new avionics.
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The XAT-5 retains the outer lines of the F-CK-1 fighter but is of around 80 percent new design. The F-CK-1 celebrated the 30th anniversary of its first flight earlier this year. (photo: Taiwan MND/ROCAF) |
In 2018 AIDC announced that the first prototype would be rolled out in September 2019, while the Ministry of National Defence has said that the prototype will make its maiden flight in June 2020. Four prototypes will be produced (two of them for static and fatigue testing, two for flight tests) before low-rate production begins in November 2021. Higher rate "mass production" is scheduled to begin in March 2023. The aircraft will be delivered to Taitung first to replace the RoCAF’s F-5E/F Tigers and then to Kangshan to replace the AT-3 fleet.
Total program cost has been estimated at $2.2 billion, and the program has already created 1,200 new jobs in Taiwan with 800 more expected by 2021.
Total program cost has been estimated at $2.2 billion, and the program has already created 1,200 new jobs in Taiwan with 800 more expected by 2021.
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For Taiwan, building up its "porcupine defence" to deter any "forced reunification" is a national imperative.
ReplyDeleteNo other objective comes higher.
It is do or die.
Do or die?
DeleteFor those minority uncle Sam's skirt hanger-ons!
When that unfortunate "forced reunification" comes, the motherland should do a quick & clean cut to flash out the unwanted minority pro-independent dickheads!
A Beijing attempt at violent forced Taiwan reunification will probably succeed, but at the price of rivers of PLA blood.
DeleteBear in mind, most China sons today are single-child, so Taiwan's strategy of making China pay a maximum price in blood will be very effective to leave many China families with no descendants.
Xi JinPing will unlikely survive such a calamity.
Wakakakaka…
DeleteSimple thinking for small mind!
"…Taiwan's strategy of making China pay a maximum price in blood will be very effective to leave many China families with no descendants."
U DON'T understand Chinese history, RIGHT?
What u have just farted about, happened before during the civil wars between CCP & Kuomintang, the Korean wars recently. Never mind about the older history!
Perhaps u need a historical review by that K9 caretaker to syiok yr ego!
BTW, what make u think that the Taiwanese arm forces will go ALL out to counter-fight the PLA attacks?
They r NO zombies!
Here is another reason why we should NOT develop a flying car, which is basically a large drone. The recent attack on a Saudi oil refinery was carried out using drones. In the hands of fanatics only Allah knows the danger they will pose...
ReplyDelete