AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle

The AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle (Chinese: 勇鷹; pinyin: Yǒngyīng) is a transonic advanced jet trainer developed by the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) of Taiwan.

T-5 Brave Eagle
A1 Prototype
Role Advanced jet trainer
National origin Taiwan (ROC)
Manufacturer Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation
Designer Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation and National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology
First flight June 10, 2020[1]
Status In production
Primary user Republic of China Air Force
Produced 2020-Present
Number built 17(July 2023)[2]
Developed from AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo

Development
XAT-5 model displayed by AIDC in 2015
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen sits in a prototype at rollout

Advanced Jet Trainer Program

The Advanced Jet Trainer Program (AJT) began in the early 2000s as the Republic of China Air Force sought a replacement for its fleet of AIDC AT-3 and Northrop F-5 advanced trainers with 66 newly built aircraft. Three designs were proposed, a modernized, upgraded version of AT-3 branded as the AT-3 MAX, an evolution of the AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-Kuo combat aircraft to be called the XAT-5, or the Italian Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master.[3] In 2014 AIDC signed a memorandum of understanding with Alenia Aermacchi to assemble the M-346 in Taiwan. The engines of all M-346 are assembled in Taiwan by International Turbine Engine Company (ITEC), a joint partnership of Honeywell and AIDC.[4] The MOD also evaluated the South Korean KAI T-50 Golden Eagle aircraft.[5]

In 2017 it was announced that the XAT-5 had won the tender with development and production to be undertaken by a partnership of AIDC and the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology with delivery scheduled to begin in 2026. Four prototypes are to be produced and the total program cost is projected to be TWD68.6 billion (US$2.2 billion).[6]

Naming

AIDC had used Blue Magpie, for the Taiwan blue magpie, as the project name. However in 2018 the Ministry of National Defense announced a contest to pick an official name for the aircraft. Taiwanese citizens were invited to submit a name with a short proposal with the winner receiving a NTD 30,000 prize.[7] On 24 September 2019, the president Tsai Ing-wen officially named the new aircraft "Brave Eagle" (Yǒngyīng) during first prototype aircraft roll-out ceremony.[8][9]

Production

In 2017, the United States approved the export of components for 132 Honeywell/ITEC F124 engines for the XAT/AT-5.[10] In 2018, AIDC announced that the first prototype would be rolled out in September 2019 with flight tests to start in June 2020.[11] In 2019 Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense testified to the country’s legislature that the maiden flight is scheduled for June 2020, small scale production is to start in November 2021, and mass production is scheduled to commence March 2023.[12]

In September 2019 A1 A2 T1 T2 the first of four prototypes was rolled out by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.[13]

In March 2021 AIDC announced that they had completed internal flight tests and that testing of the two prototypes and the two initial aircraft due to be delivered by the end of the year would be conducted by the Taiwanese Air Force from then on.[14] A number of internal and operational test flights were completed in July 2021 from Taitung Air Base with some operations occurring over the pacific ocean.[15]

The first production model T-5 had its first flight on October 21, 2021.[16] The first production model has the serial number 11003.[17]

Design
Prototype at rollout
A1 Prototype rollout

The design is based on the AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-Kuo and shares the same engines, but will have 80% new components including a composite body. Compared to the F-CK-1, it will have more advanced avionics, increased fuel capacity, and will be a little larger.[18] The aerofoil is slightly revised, with the wings being thicker than on the F-CK-1[19] in order to increase stability at low speed and low altitude, as well as to provide increased fuel storage.[13] The ram air scoop of the F-CK-1 has been redesigned in partnership with the Eaton Corporation with two aluminum laser powder bed fusion printed parts replacing 22 original parts.[20] Meggitt will supply the main wheels, carbon brakes and brake control systems as they do on the AT-3 and F-CK-1.[21] Martin-Baker will provide the ejection seat systems.[22] More than 55% of its components are made in Taiwan. It has been reported that the aircraft was designed from the beginning to serve dual peacetime training and wartime combat roles.[23]

Avionics and sensors

NCSIST is developing an airborne AESA radar for the T-5 Brave Eagle but private Taiwanese firm Tron Future Tech has also bid their gallium nitride based AESA for the program.[24] In 2019 it was announced that Pyras Technology would supply the radar and communications antennas for the platform.[13]

Variants

In 2019 Jane’s reported that a light fighter AT-5 variant was planned to replace the Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II fleet.[25]

Operators
 Taiwan (Republic of China)

Specifications

Data from airforce-technology.com[27]

General characteristics

  • Crew: two
  • Length: 14.5 m (47.6 ft)
  • Wingspan: 9.2 m (30.3 ft)
  • Height: 13.7 m (14 ft 5 in)
  • Empty weight: 4,500 kg (9,921 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 7,500 kg (16,535 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Honeywell/ITEC F124-200TW turbofan, 27.8 kN (6,250 lbf) thrust each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 1,030 km/h (640 mph, 640 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 1,013 km/h (629 mph, 547 kn)
  • Range: 1,350 km (839 mi, 729 nmi)
  • Ferry range: 1,350 km (839 mi, 729 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 13,000 m (42,651 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 48 m/s (9,500 ft/min)

Armament

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. Mu-chuan, Su; Yeh, Joseph. "New indigenous trainer jet conducts first test flight in Taichung". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  2. 一起動起來（鍾武昌） (2023-07-04). "勇鷹1117，萬眾矚目亮相!｜漢翔｜勇鷹高教機精彩首飛" (Press release) (in Chinese (Taiwan)). YouTube.
  3. Minnick, Wendell (14 August 2015). "Taiwan Exhibits New Fighter Trainers at Expo". defensenews.com. Defense News. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  4. Wendell Minnick and, Tom Kington (10 August 2016). "Taiwan Advanced Jet Trainer Nears Bidding Process". defensenews.com. Defense News. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  5. Pocock, Chris. "Taiwan Confirms Indigenous Jet Trainer Development". ainonline.com. The Convention News Company, Inc. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  6. J.R. Wu and Michael Perry, Damon Lin (7 February 2017). "Taiwan to build 66 jet trainer aircraft by 2026 to bolster defenses". reuters.com. Reuters. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  7. Yeh, Joseph. "Military launches naming contest for its new jets". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  8. "Advanced Jet Trainer Rollout Ceremony". AIDC. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  9. "Taiwan unveils prototype of indigenous advanced jet trainer". Focus Taiwan. Central News Agency. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  10. "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org. SIPRI. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  11. Grevatt, Jon. "Taiwan starts production of XAT-5 prototype". janes.com. Janes. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  12. Liao, George (3 April 2019). "Taiwan plans to start mass-producing trainer aircraft in 2023". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  13. Choo, Roy. "Picture: Taiwan unveils "Brave Eagle" AJT". www.flightglobal.com. Flight Global. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  14. Yu, Matt; Yeh, Joseph. "New trainer jets to enter operational test phase". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  15. "Chinese spy ship and US destroyer seen near Taiwan". www.taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  16. Strong, Matthew (21 October 2021). "Taiwan's domestically produced 'Brave Eagle' jet trainer makes debut flight". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  17. Cheng-yu, Yang; Chin, Jonathan. "New missile and defense systems to arrive by 2028". www.taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  18. Banks, Martin (May 2019). "In Face of Chinese 'Aggression' Taiwan Beefs Up its Own Defenses". intpolicydigest.org. International Policy Digest. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  19. "Taiwan to purchase 66 advanced training airplanes". janes.com. Janes. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  20. "Eaton Uses Additive Manufacturing to Supply Parts to Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation". finance.yahoo.com. Yahoo. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  21. Staff Writer, DP. "Meggitt Begins Delivery of Braking Systems for Taiwan's AIDC XAT-5 Blue Magpie Advanced Jet Trainer". defpost.com. Def Post. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  22. Staff Writer (14 December 2017). "AIDC, Martin-Baker sign deal on AJT ejection seats". www.taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  23. Joseph Ye, Matt Yu and. "New trainer jets also viable in wartime: scholar". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  24. Minnick, Wendell (25 November 2018). "Taiwan AESA Radar to Challenge International Market Share". nationalinterest.org. National Interest. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  25. Jennings, Gareth. "Taiwan rolls out indigenous T-5 aircraft". www.janes.com. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  26. Yu, Matt; Lim, Emerson. "Tsai lauds Taiwan's aerospace industry as Brave Eagle takes off". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  27. "T-5 Yung Yin Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) Aircraft, Taiwan". www.airforce-technology.com. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
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