The Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF) received the first T-5 Brave Eagle Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) from the Aerospace Industry Development Corporation (AIDC).
The Civil Aviation Administration revealed on its official social media account on November 28 that the twin-engine aircraft took off from Taichung Qingquangang Air Force Base, where the AIDC facility is located, and landed at the Taitung Zhi Aviation Military Base where the handover ceremony was held.
The serial number of this new aircraft is “11003” and is the first production example. The second production aircraft is expected to be delivered by the end of 2021. Both aircraft will be used for RoCAF testing, supplementing the two prototypes already tested by the service.
It is expected to start mass production in March 2023.
The first prototype A1 (serial number 11001) was developed in cooperation with the National Zhongshan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), and it flew for the first time in June 2020, while the second aircraft flew in late December 2020 .
The US$2.2 billion T-5 development contract was awarded to AIDC/NCSIST on February 7, 2017. The goal is to produce up to 66 aircraft by 2026 to replace the aging AIDC AT-3 trainer aircraft and the licensed Northrop F- The 5E /F Tiger IIs fighter/training aircraft has been in use since the 1980s and 1970s.
T-5 Brave Eagle was identified as XAT-5 Lán Què (blue magpie) in the early development process, which largely borrowed from AIDC’s development and manufacturing of the active F-CK-1 Ching-Kuo Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) experience of. ), despite the physical similarity, the value of the new content is as high as 80%.
Other improvements include an improved and strengthened airframe, optimized for low-speed flight stability, increased internal fuel capacity, and a redesigned landing gear to improve landing and taxi operations.
Like IDF, the T-5 will be equipped with a pair of locally manufactured F124-200TW turbofan engines, provided by the International Turbine Engine Company (ITEC), a joint venture between AIDC and Honeywell Aerospace.
According to reports, Taoyuan-based Pyras Technology has contracted to provide radar and communication antennas, and the aircraft’s equipment also includes a customized BAE Systems cockpit display system and Martin Baker ejection seats.
NCSIST will also provide up to 26 ground-based training systems (GBTS), including 16 mission planning systems, 3 basic flight simulators, a full-featured flight simulator, a ground-based real-time monitoring system and a flight training management system.
Xiao Wu
