Taiwan’s New Brave Eagle Jet Trainer Nears Service Entry

Taiwanese aircraft manufacturer Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) will commence deliveries of its new Yung-ying (Brave Eagle) Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) towards the end of this year.

Both prototypes (No. 11001, 11002) were showcased by AIDC together for the first time in public, this week, with AIDC Chairman Hu, Kai-Hung flying in one of the aircraft as a show of confidence.

A total of 66 aircraft are slated for delivery to the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) by 2026, which will use the indigenous trainer for advanced flight training and as a lead-in fighter trainer. The first two aircraft are to be delivered to the ROCAF by the end of the year, following which operational evaluation of the trainer type will begin.

The Brave Eagle AJT was unveiled for the first time in September 2019 as a replacement for the indigenous AIDC AT-3 basic trainer and Northrop F-5 advanced trainer. It is based on AIDC’s F-CK-1 Ching-kuo, though touted as an 80% improvement over the indigenous light fighter, with increased use of composites in its structure for reduced weight.

A Ground-Based Training System (GBTS) is being developed by Taiwan’s National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), which will feature a customized flight simulation and computer-aided training system for logistics and maintenance.

The indigenous AJT development programme began in February 2017, when the ROCAF inked an agreement with NCSIST. AIDC was commissioned into the programme by NCSIST in April 2017.

The new trainer type will have a service life of 30 years.