Taiwan to Seek Development of an Indigenous Stealth Fighter
Posted by Tamir Eshel
Challenged by the ever growing scale and capabilities of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Taiwan must develop its air defense capabilities fielding more capable fighter planes in greater numbers, a requirement aired in a recently published released quadrennial defense review. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) claims that China is deploying many of its newest weapons its Nanjing and Guangzhou military regions, both of which are adjacent to Taiwan, in recent years. Moreover, Many of the training programs and live-fire exercises played by the PLA have focused on seeking a speedy end to island conflicts in an apparent effort to prevent foreign intervention in the event of such a standoff.
According to the MND’s quadrennial defense review, the military is also planning to develop unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of carrying out combat and reconnaissance missions to beef up the country’s air defense muscle.
Given the reluctance to deliver advanced fighter aircraft as expressed by Taiwan’s main ally – the US – Taipei is determined to develop its own advanced air power, based on new generation, stealth-capable fighters capable to meet the modern Chinese fighter planes in battle. Other capabilities recommended for such fighters include long-range flight and aerial refueling abilities, as well as the capability to launch ground and anti-ship weapons.
In the 1980s Taiwan has embarked on an indigenous defense fighter (IDF) aircraft project also known as F-CK-1A/B Ching-kuo, developed and built by Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC). It was designed to replace US built F-5 and F-104 jet fighters, after the US refused to supply Taiwan newer generation fighters (Taiwan was interested in the Northrop F-20 Tigershark or F-16 at the time). The aircraft entered service in 1994 and production of 130 aircraft has continued until the year 2000. Since 2010 these aircraft are undergoing enhancement into the F-CK-2C/D.
The need for an advanced manned fighter receives a special emphasis due to Taipei’s reiterated commitment to Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) which is now part of Taiwan’s trade law, preventing the proliferation of missile and unmanned aerial vehicle technology.
The ministry expects the development and construction of indigenous submarines and warplane will cost an estimated NT$500 billion.
MND spokesman Luo Shou-he said Tuesday March 12, 2013 that the decision to build indigenous warplanes does not mean that the military has ruled out the option of procuring F-16 C/Ds or even more advanced types of jet fighters. “We have struck a deal with the United States on upgrading our F-16 A/B fighters and will continue evaluate our need for advanced warplanes,” Luo added. According to the MND’s budget plan, there are still nearly NT$500 billion (US$16.89 billion) worth U.S. weapon procurement projects to be executed over the next five to 10 years.
Taiwan To Upgrade Half F-CK-1 of its Fleet By Year’s End
By year’s end Taiwan plans to complete modernizing about half of the fleet of its locally built ‘Indigenous Defense Fighter’ (IDF). The upgrade will enable the Taiwan Air Force to maintain the aircraft in service through 2030. About half of Taiwan’s 127 aircraft fleet will be completed by the end of 2013, Air Force officials told the Parliament in Taipei. The upgrade package includes an enhanced radar, avionics and improved electronic warfare (EW) systems. Taiwan deployed the IDFs in 1992 and the upgrade, which kicked off in 2009. This four-year phase includes 71 F-CK-1 A/B aircraft to be upgraded into F-CK-1 C/D at a cost of half-billion US$. The remaining aircraft will be upgraded through the program’s second phase, to be concluded by 2017.
The IDF jet fighter project was designed and built by the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC), after the US refused to sell modern fighters to Taiwan. The aircraft was developed with assistance from American defense corporations. It entered active service with the Republic of China Air Force in 1994, and all 130 production aircraft had been manufactured by 1999. In 2012 the United States last year agreed to equip Taiwan’s 146 F-16 A/B jets with new technologies in a $5.85 billion deal.
Taiwan is planning to complete the first phase of the modernization of the F-CK-1A/B Indigoes Defence Fighter into C/D by year’s end. Seen here is the two-seat ‘B’, eventually upgraded into the F-CK-1D model. Photo: Dennis Chang/Airlines.net
Posted by Tamir Eshel
Challenged by the ever growing scale and capabilities of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Taiwan must develop its air defense capabilities fielding more capable fighter planes in greater numbers, a requirement aired in a recently published released quadrennial defense review. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) claims that China is deploying many of its newest weapons its Nanjing and Guangzhou military regions, both of which are adjacent to Taiwan, in recent years. Moreover, Many of the training programs and live-fire exercises played by the PLA have focused on seeking a speedy end to island conflicts in an apparent effort to prevent foreign intervention in the event of such a standoff.
According to the MND’s quadrennial defense review, the military is also planning to develop unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of carrying out combat and reconnaissance missions to beef up the country’s air defense muscle.
Given the reluctance to deliver advanced fighter aircraft as expressed by Taiwan’s main ally – the US – Taipei is determined to develop its own advanced air power, based on new generation, stealth-capable fighters capable to meet the modern Chinese fighter planes in battle. Other capabilities recommended for such fighters include long-range flight and aerial refueling abilities, as well as the capability to launch ground and anti-ship weapons.
In the 1980s Taiwan has embarked on an indigenous defense fighter (IDF) aircraft project also known as F-CK-1A/B Ching-kuo, developed and built by Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC). It was designed to replace US built F-5 and F-104 jet fighters, after the US refused to supply Taiwan newer generation fighters (Taiwan was interested in the Northrop F-20 Tigershark or F-16 at the time). The aircraft entered service in 1994 and production of 130 aircraft has continued until the year 2000. Since 2010 these aircraft are undergoing enhancement into the F-CK-2C/D.
The need for an advanced manned fighter receives a special emphasis due to Taipei’s reiterated commitment to Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) which is now part of Taiwan’s trade law, preventing the proliferation of missile and unmanned aerial vehicle technology.
The ministry expects the development and construction of indigenous submarines and warplane will cost an estimated NT$500 billion.
MND spokesman Luo Shou-he said Tuesday March 12, 2013 that the decision to build indigenous warplanes does not mean that the military has ruled out the option of procuring F-16 C/Ds or even more advanced types of jet fighters. “We have struck a deal with the United States on upgrading our F-16 A/B fighters and will continue evaluate our need for advanced warplanes,” Luo added. According to the MND’s budget plan, there are still nearly NT$500 billion (US$16.89 billion) worth U.S. weapon procurement projects to be executed over the next five to 10 years.
Taiwan To Upgrade Half F-CK-1 of its Fleet By Year’s End
By year’s end Taiwan plans to complete modernizing about half of the fleet of its locally built ‘Indigenous Defense Fighter’ (IDF). The upgrade will enable the Taiwan Air Force to maintain the aircraft in service through 2030. About half of Taiwan’s 127 aircraft fleet will be completed by the end of 2013, Air Force officials told the Parliament in Taipei. The upgrade package includes an enhanced radar, avionics and improved electronic warfare (EW) systems. Taiwan deployed the IDFs in 1992 and the upgrade, which kicked off in 2009. This four-year phase includes 71 F-CK-1 A/B aircraft to be upgraded into F-CK-1 C/D at a cost of half-billion US$. The remaining aircraft will be upgraded through the program’s second phase, to be concluded by 2017.
The IDF jet fighter project was designed and built by the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC), after the US refused to sell modern fighters to Taiwan. The aircraft was developed with assistance from American defense corporations. It entered active service with the Republic of China Air Force in 1994, and all 130 production aircraft had been manufactured by 1999. In 2012 the United States last year agreed to equip Taiwan’s 146 F-16 A/B jets with new technologies in a $5.85 billion deal.
Taiwan is planning to complete the first phase of the modernization of the F-CK-1A/B Indigoes Defence Fighter into C/D by year’s end. Seen here is the two-seat ‘B’, eventually upgraded into the F-CK-1D model. Photo: Dennis Chang/Airlines.net
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