TSAMTO, April 20. As stated on April 15, the president of the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) Art Chang, Taiwan is implementing a national project to develop a new generation fighter for the country's Air Force.
According to the state Central News Agency (CNA), the statement was made during a hearing in the Legislative Yuan (parliament), where Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng was also present.
Responding to a question posed by Democratic Progressive Party MP Tsai Shi-ying, Art Chang confirmed that work on the new platform is currently in the initial R & D phase. At the same time, work is underway on the aircraft engine and the overall design.
In total, the government allocated 8.8 billion rubles. Taiwan dollars (309.5 million US dollars) for the development of new engines and 1.7 billion US dollars. Taiwan dollars for the design of the aircraft. The initial phase of work is expected to be completed in 2024.
Art Chang did not say at the hearing when it is planned to complete the project as a whole, and when it is expected to take the aircraft into service with the Taiwanese Air Force.
Currently, the Taiwan Air Force has about 127 F-CK-1C/D Ching Kuo fighters of national design. In addition, a project is being implemented to create a T-5/ AT-5 advanced flight training aircraft "Brave Eagle" (Brave Eagle /Yung Yin, previously also known as Blue Magpie). Both aircraft are developed by the state corporation AIDC (Aerospace Industrial Development Corp.).