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A file picture taken last month of Taiwan Air Force F-16 fighter planes at the Hualien Airbase. Photo: EPA

Taiwan to build 66 jet trainer aircraft to help bolster defences

Project unveiled amid strained relations between island’s independence-leaning government and mainland China

Taiwan

Taiwan plans to build 66 jet trainer aircraft, with a scheduled maiden flight by 2020, to bolster defences against mainland China which has never renounced the use of force to take back what it sees as its territory.

The fleet of 66 aircraft will be delivered by 2026, the National Chung-shan Institute of Science and Technology, a quasi-defence ministry research agency, said on Tuesday.

“Investing over NT$68 billion (HK$17 billion) in new model advanced jet trainers, not only lays the foundation for the development of our future air combat capability, but also lets our aerospace industry continue to develop,” Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen said at a signing ceremony for the project.

The jets will be developed jointly by the institute, the defence ministry and Aerospace Industrial Development Corp, the island’s sole military jet maker.

Taiwan’s jet-making capabilities have “stagnated” for nearly 30 years with its aerospace industry falling behind other countries, Tsai said, referring to the Indigenous Defence Fighter combat aircraft Taiwan developed and produced in the 1990s. The programme ended in 1999 to 2000.

“We do not have another 30 years to waste,” Tsai said.

The defence ministry said in this year’s budget it planned to spend NT$68.6 billion over 12 years developing its own jet trainers.

Jet trainers are also called light attack aircraft, although Taiwan says the planes will only be used to prepare pilots for combat aircraft. Taiwan’s air force mainly flies IDFs, and French-built Mirage and US-made F-16 fighter jets.
Taiwanese soldiers loading a missile during military exercises on the island last month. Photo: AP

Taiwan, isolated diplomatically and reliant on the United States as its only arms supplier, has struggled to maintain modern military equipment in the face of mainland China’s growing might across the 180 km wide Taiwan Strait to its west.

China rattled Taipei in December and early January when it sailed its sole aircraft carrier around the island for what Beijing said were routine drills.

Beijing distrusts Tsai and her independence-leaning ruling government and sees moves towards independence as a reason to forcibly take control of Taiwan.

Tsai’s push to build Taiwan’s defence industry is also aimed at increasing technological know-how and boost economic growth at home, but technology transfer from allies will be critical to the success of the indigenous aircraft programme.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Taiwan to build 66 trainer jets to boost defences
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