대만 (Taiwan), 고등훈련기 자체 개발 희망

 

대만 (Taiwan) 이 자국 공군 (ROCAF) 의 고등훈련기를 AIDC 에서 XAT-5 이라는 이름으로 자체 개발하고자 한다는

Aviation Week 紙 기사를 소개 합니다.

 

그동안 국내외 언론을 통해 우리 대한민국 KAI 가 개발한 T-50 Golden Eagle 고등훈련기의 대만 수출 가능성도 조심

스럽게 예상 되었으나 아래 기사에 의하면, 기존 IDF F-CK-1 을 기반으로 훈련기로써의 설계변경 및 장착 엔진 교체

등 여러 부분에 있어 충분한 검토를 마친 것으로 판단 됩니다.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Taiwan To Develop New Jet Trainer

Aviation Week.com, 08/17/2011

Author : Leithen Francis

 

Taiwan’s state-owned aerospace conglomerate Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) aims to design and build a new jet trainer, the XAT-5.

 

“The concept is based on the corporation’s Indigenous Fighter (IDF), but the internal structure may change,” says Mike Lee, secretary-general of the National Defense Industrial Association of Sino and special assistant to AIDC Chairman Jason Liu. Some differences between the IDF and the XAT-5 are that the trainer will have none of the IDF’s weapons and radar, Lee says. The IDF is a light fighter AIDC developed in the 1980s for the air force that remained in production until 2000.

 

The IDF’s weapons include the indigenously developed XC-2 missile, which sits within a deep groove in the aircraft’s underbelly. Having no XC-2s means that the center pylon can be removed, and the space instead can be used for an expanded fuel tank, giving the trainer more range, Lee says.

 

AIDC’s IDF is powered by two TFE1042-70 engines with afterburners, but Lee says the XAT-5 will be powered by two Honeywell F124 engines without afterburners. The F124 already powers the Aero L-159 and Alenia Aermacchi M-346 jet trainers.

 

TFE1042-70 is an earlier version of the F124. AIDC chose the F124 because it is a proven, high-tech product and AIDC is deeply involved in this engine program already, Lee says, adding that AIDC makes many of the engine’s components and assembles these engines.

 

When asked if AIDC has any ambition to later export the XAT-5, Lee downplays the idea but won’t rule it out. He says AIDC has completed preliminary designs “but we have not got into the detailed designs yet. We need to apply for a research and development budget” from the Ministry of National Defense. AIDC also needs to get the air force to sign on for the program, he adds.

 

The XAT-5 will replace the air force’s AIDC AT-3 jet trainers, which were developed in the 1970s in conjunction with Northrop. These are powered by two TFE731-2 engines. AIDC upgraded the AT-3s about 10 years ago, Lee says, adding that the process included changing the skin and spars on the wings.

 

AIDC is presently upgrading 71 of the air force’s IDFs, with seven completed so far. The first-phase upgrade involves 12 items including improvements to the flight control and avionics systems, Lee says. It is also understood that AIDC has been strengthening the IDF’s landing gear so the aircraft can handle heavier weapons.

 

Lee says there is a second-phase upgrade that involves eight items, including adding conformal fuel tanks, but the air force has yet to agree to these, although the two sides are talking about it.

 

Taiwan, meanwhile, is pushing for U.S. government approval to buy 66 Lockheed Martin F16C/Ds and upgrade its current fleet of about 145 F-16A/Bs. The U.S. is due to decide by Oct. 1. Lee says AIDC would like to be involved in the F-16 upgrade via systems installation and testing.

 

 

  ROCAF F-CK-1 ⓒ Steven Weng

  ROCAF F-CK-1 ⓒ Chang-Song Wang