|
Jet deals to keep
state-owned firm busy
HANDS FULL: Aerospace Industrial Development
Corp could be assigned not only the subcontracting work on F-16C/Ds, but also
most of the work on the F-16A/B upgrades
By J. Michael Cole / Staff Reporter
A prototype of an Indigenous
Defence Fighter II “Goshawk” fighter aircraft with a conformal fuel tank clearly
visible above the wing is pictured at the Aerospace Industrial Development Corp
plant in Shalu, Greater Taichung, on June 30.
Photo: J. Michael Cole, Taipei Times
State-owned Aerospace Industrial
Development Corp (AIDC, 漢翔航空) is facing promising prospects for the coming
years, with an advanced trainer program in the works and the likelihood of a
major role in a possible F-16A/B upgrade project.
One of the main projects AIDC is working on is a new advanced and completely
indigenous trainer, Mike Lee (李適彰), secretary-general of the National Defense
Industrial Association of Sino (中華國防工業發展協會), told the Taipei Times on the
sidelines of the Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition yesterday.
The firm has been working on a XAT-5 prototype, a twin-engine trainer that,
according to some industry analysts, could be based on the Indigenous Defense
Fighter’s (IDF) airframe.
Although he would not provide a time frame and said the air force had yet to
green-light a specific model, Lee, who also serves as a special assistant to
AIDC chairman Jason Liu (劉介岑), said the next few years would be the perfect time
to introduce a new trainer to replace the single-engine AT-3 — also manufactured
by AIDC — that entered service in 1984.
Turning to the mid-life upgrade of Taiwan’s 130 F-CK-1A/B “Ching Kuo” IDFs, Lee
said work on the first 71 aircraft was continuing and provided the air force had
the budget, a second-phase upgrade, which would complete the remainder of the
fleet, could be launched at some point. The first phase of the program has
delivered six upgraded aircraft so far.
The configurations involved in the second-phase upgrades are still under
discussion between AIDC and the air force, Lee said.
AIDC is also likely to play a role on the Lockheed Martin F-16s.
Not only could the firm be assigned some subcontracting work on the 66 new
F-16C/Ds Taiwan has been requesting from the US since 2007, but the previous day
a senior official at Lockheed told the Taipei Times that most of the work on the
US$4.5 billion program to upgrade Taiwan’s 144 F-16A/Bs would be carried out in
Taiwan.
Given the great similarities between the IDF and the F-16, and AIDC’s experience
handling both, it is very likely that AIDC would get the contract for the
F-16A/B upgrade, though ultimately the decision lies with the air force, Lee
said.
The US is expected to announce its final decision on the F-16C/D sale and the
F-16A/B upgrade package on Oct. 1.
It has been speculated that if Taiwan fails to obtain the F-16C/Ds, AIDC could
proceed with the manufacture of the IDF-II “Goshawk” joint strike fighter, which
comes with a larger payload and what is known as a conformal fuel tank that
provides greater range.
A model Goshawk was displayed at the launch ceremony for the refurbished IDFs in
Greater Taichung on June 30.
Depending on budgets and requirements set by the air force, Lee said AIDC could
also embark on a fifth-generation fighter aircraft development program, but he
did not elaborate nor did he tie a decision to any outcome on the F-16C/Ds.
Although it could have its hands full if all the programs were to occur
simultaneously, Lee said AIDC currently had the manpower and technical base to
accomplish all of the tasks.
|
