Taiwan is set to develop its first indigenous supersonic jet trainer following the signing of agreements by the Ministry of National Defense, National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology and Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. Feb. 7 in Taichung City, central Taiwan.
Under the pacts, which pertain to an NT$68.6 billion (US$2.2 billion) MND program, 66 XT-5 Blue Magpie trainers will be designed and built by Taoyuan City-headquartered NCSIST—the main R&D arm of the MND—in conjunction with Taichung-based AIDC., a state-owned firm overseen by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. A prototype is scheduled for completion in 2019, with test flights expected to take place the next year. By 2026, the full complement of aircraft will replace the Republic of China (Taiwan) air force’s aging fleet of AT-3 trainers and F-5 fighters.
President Tsai Ing-wen said at the signing ceremony that the program represents a milestone in government efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in defense for Taiwan and spur the restructuring and upgrading of related sectors. There are two goals for the development of the local defense industry: cultivating and retaining talent, as well as integrating it with other sectors so as to create a powerful driver for the national economy, she added.
According to Tsai, since she took office May 20, 2016, NCSIST has recruited around 900 experts, of which more than 200 joined the institute’s Aeronautical Systems Research Division, with a view to bolstering Taiwan’s defense capabilities. The program offers Taiwan a golden opportunity to deepen the nation’s talent pool in this field, she said.
Echoing Tsai’s remarks, NCSIST Vice President Ma Wan-chun said Taiwan is capable of designing and building advanced supersonic trainer jets, as demonstrated by its successful AT-3 and Indigenous Defense Fighter experiences. The Blue Magpie is just a starting point on the road to fully supporting and meeting the air force’s operational needs, he added.
Constructed by AIDC in the 1980s, the AT-3, aka Tzu Chiang—meaning in Chinese gaining strength without relying on others—is Taiwan’s primary supersonic jet trainer and the aircraft of choice for the ROC air force Thunder Tiger Aerobatics Team. The IDF, aka the Ching-kuo Fighter named in honor of late ROC President Chiang Ching-kuo, was rolled out in 1988.
Promoting Taiwan’s defense industry, of which the aerospace and manufacturing sectors are an integral part, is a core component of the government’s New Model for Economic Development. As a high-tech and smart machinery hub for such value-added sectors, Taichung is expected to grow into an economic powerhouse and play a role in stimulatingeconomic activity nationwide. (SCK-E)
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