AIDC completes 27 T-5A deliveries to RoCAF

AIDC's T-5 Brave Eagle Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) and light combat aircraft is being produced and delivered with enhanced digital avionics and materials technologies. (AIDC)

Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) has delivered 27 out of 66 T-5A Brave Eagle Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs) ordered by the Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF).

An AIDC spokesperson told Janes on 30 January that these delivery numbers are current as of December 2023. Janes understands that AIDC had achieved its annual delivery target of 17 T-5As to the RoCAF in 2023. The earlier batch of 10 aircraft was delivered between 2021 and 2022.

The twin-engine T-5A (also known as the T-BE5A) is intended to replace the RoCAF's obsolete AIDC AT-3 trainers and Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II fighters. The RoCAF aims to have all 66 T-5s in service by 2026. The 66 aircraft are being acquired at a cost of TWD68.6 billion (USD2.2 billion). Janes has previously reported that the T-5As will be used for “air-defence readiness and pilot training”.

According to the spokesperson, AIDC has the mandate to deliver between two and 18 T-5s to the RoCAF annually during the ongoing production phase. “The current focus is to deliver the AJT to RoCAF on schedule, improving system reliability, and assisting customers in establishing total logistics capabilities,” the spokesperson said.

According to the spokesperson, the T-5As have critical advantages in comparison with the F-5 Tigers and AT-3 trainers, including “brand-new digital and material technologies”. Key features include an all-glass cockpit display. “A [head-up display] HUD repeater is installed in the rear seat so that the rear pilot can interpret the HUD information simultaneously,” the spokesperson said.