The air force is preparing to test two upgraded versions of its locally developed fighter aimed at increasing the plane's range and firepower, the authoritative Jane's Defense Weekly said.
The two prototypes, being produced by the Aerospace Industrial Development Corp (AIDC), are an improved version of the Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF), the weekly said in an article to be published on Wednesday.
It said both the range and weaponry of the plane were intentionally limited under the US technology-transfer program that was crucial to the IDF's development in the 1980s.
Prototypes
"We are preparing for ground tests. We have only manufactured two prototypes. If everything goes well we can put it into production after the air force approves the prototypes," Sun Tao-yu (
The upgrade allows the IDF to carry an additional 771kg of fuel and includes an improved avionics suite, retrofitted electronic-warfare capabilities and new weapon systems.
The landing gear has been strengthened to accommodate the added fuel and payload, but a plan to include dielectric radar-absorbing properties for a "stealth" fuselage was dropped due to concerns over weight.
The three-phase program was launched in 2001 and recently saw completion of its second phase.
More missiles
The first phase involved increasing the number of Tien Chien 2 (Sky Sword 2) air-to-air missiles from two to four, as well as integrating the new Tien Chien 2A anti-radiation missile and the new Wan Chien (Ten Thousand Swords) cluster bomb.
The second phase involved the upgrading of mission computers; electronic countermeasures; electronic warfare systems; an advanced "identification friend or foe" system and terrain-following and radar improvements.
Phase three will involve ground and air testing, with service entry scheduled for 2010 if the program is approved.
AIDC produced 130 IDFs during the 1980s to replace the nation's ageing Lockheed F-104 Starfighters and Northrop F-5 Tigers.
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
Democratic Progressive Party caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu, front, grabs the pennant in a dragon boat race hosted by Qu Yuan Temple in the Shuanghsi River in Taipei’s Beitou District yesterday.