Taiwan has developed the essential elements required to meet the deadline for delivering its domestically manufactured advanced trainer jets, as stated by the island's defense ministry.
The production of 66 T-5 Brave Eagle training aircraft A crucial aspect of Taiwan's defense strategy focuses on enhancing pilot training for sophisticated fighter jets like the F-16V, in reaction to escalating military pressures from Beijing.
Nevertheless, the past year has seen delays in production due to shortages of imported system components, which have hindered the government-supported Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) from fulfilling its delivery targets for 2024, as stated by the defense ministry on Thursday.
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As stated in a report presented to the legislative body, AIDC was initially scheduled to provide 47 planes to the air force by the close of last month; however, they managed to supply only 43 jets, thus falling short by four aircraft.
"The delays in delivering imported system parts have resulted in complications, and the air force is currently working closely with suppliers to ensure timely arrivals," according to the ministry statement.
Seven critical components were found to be lacking: the engine, environmental control system, canopy explosive jettison mechanism, landing gear, hydraulic reservoirs, wheel well actuators, and emergency ram air shutoff valves.
To tackle these deficiencies, the military-supported National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology — which leads Taiwan in weapon development — worked alongside AIDC to create three crucial parts domestically: the hydraulic oil reservoir, wheel bay door actuator, and emergency ram-air shutoff valve, as stated by the ministry.
"The certified parts from the original overseas suppliers can substitute for certain imported elements, thereby reducing delivery delays," it stated.
The ministry also verified that AIDC has obtained all required system parts from international suppliers. The process of installation and testing is currently ongoing, aiming to finalize these late shipments by the month’s end.
With a combined budget of NT$68.6 billion (approximately US$2 billion), AIDC plans to produce 66 T-5 Brave Eagle trainer aircraft, with all deliveries expected to be completed for the air force by 2026.
The aircraft conducted its first flight in 2020, then entered into restricted manufacturing in 2021 before ramping up for large-scale production starting in 2023. The Brave Eagle includes a variant as a two-seat training jet. collided last month while on a training exercise In Eastern Taiwan, this marks the first occurrence of such an event since the aircraft began service with the air force in 2021.
The fifth-generation trainers — inspired by Taiwan’s Indigenous Defence Fighter (IDF), which was created over thirty years ago by AIDC — aim to replace the aging AT-3 trainer and U.S.-made F-5 training planes that have experienced numerous accidents in recent times.
The Bold Eagle incorporates comparable avionics systems to those found in the F-16, facilitating an easier adjustment period for pilots moving into advanced fighter aircraft. This model is equipped for both aerial dogfights and ground attack simulations and has the capability of operating from airstrips with limited length.
Although it has the potential to be equipped with weapons, this feature is still under testing. During times of war, the plane is expected to play a supporting role as well.
Taiwan's military primarily depends on U.S. weaponry, yet the Taiwanese administration has emphasized developing a sophisticated domestic defense sector—especially since Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of its territory and is willing to use force if needed to bring it under control, hastens its own military upgrades and conducts more exercises close to the island.
Many nations, such as the United States, do not consider Taiwan to be a separate sovereign country. However, the U.S. opposes using military force against this autonomously governed region and pledges to provide it with weaponry.
Onlookers see the localized manufacturing of parts for training jets as a significant move toward Taiwan's aim of advancing self-reliant defense capabilities and bolstering its aviation sector.
"Defence self-sufficiency is not a matter of cost but of value. It provides aerospace engineers with comprehensive hands-on design experience," said Su Tzu-yun, a senior analyst at the government-affiliated Institute for National Defence and Security Research (INDSR).
He stated that the Brave Eagle program was expected to create an economic impact equivalent to "roughly 2.1 to 2.5 times the original investment." This suggests that with the NT$68.6 billion allocated for development funds, the potential returns might exceed NT$170 billion.
Su's INDSR coworker, Shu Hsiao-huang, emphasized the functional role of the Brave Eagle.
He stated that previously, Taiwan’s fighter pilot training adhered to a three-phase, three-plane system: trainees initially used the T-34C basic trainer, subsequently moved on to the AT-3, and finally underwent operational conversion training with the F-5E/F.
He stated that with the advent of the Brave Eagle, the air force is shifting toward a three-phase, dual-aircraft system, merging the functions of the AT-3 and F-5E/F into one platform.
Shu pointed out certain limitations as well. He mentioned, "This aircraft does not have supersonic capabilities, potentially making it difficult for trainees to transition into frontline fighter squadrons using supersonic jets such as the F-16s, Mirage-2000s, and IDFs."
Several experts have cast doubt on the Brave Eagle's capability to serve efficiently as a fighter plane during actual warfare, even though both AIDC and the Taiwanese air force assert otherwise.
"Athough they've stressed that the Brave Eagle can be transformed into a fighter jet during times of war, questions arise regarding its efficacy in real combat due to the absence of an advanced radar system and supersonic capabilities," stated Lu De-yun, who previously served as the press spokesman for Taiwan's defense ministry.
Lu also highlighted Taiwan's shortfall in pilots as a significant issue. He stated, “Despite delivering all the training aircraft, we might still lack sufficient candidates for proper utilization—never mind sustaining a requisite number of battle-ready pilots during times of peace and war.”
Due to Taiwan's decreasing birthrate and the challenges faced in attracting individuals to pursue careers in military aviation, the country's armed forces have found it difficult to recruit sufficient numbers of pilots.
The Air Force Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Wang Te-yang, informed legislators on Thursday that the pilot-to-aircraft ratio for Taiwan’s airforce stands at only 1:1.33. He admitted this figure falls short of what is considered acceptable. In essence, every authorized aircraft averages about 1.33 pilots, lower than the required benchmark of two pilots per plane.
However, Wang stressed that the military would make every effort to address training and personnel challenges within the air force.
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