Aircraft

Taiwan has unveiled a two-seat trainer version of its Indigenous Defence Fighter (IDF) as part of what the country’s president, Chen-Shui-bian says is a “gradual upgrading of more fighter jets to significantly boost our air defence capability”.

Flight testing of the first of two prototype aircraft began in October. The second prototype is the two-seat version of the improved C/D version, development of which was launched in 2001.

The fly-by-wire IDF (single-seat version pictured), is built by Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) and incorporates a new BAE Systems digital terrain-following flight control computer, which increases processing capacity for future upgrades.

Other improvements over the original A/B version include increased internal fuel, strengthened landing gear, expanded weapons capability and upgraded radar, head-up display, mission computer and electronic counter measures. Production of the A/B ended in 1999 after 130 examples had been built.

AIDC hopes to begin series production of the C/D version in 2008.