Taiwan’s incoming government wanted the AV-8B in order to develop indigenous STOVL fighter

A report by United Daily News says it was Taiwan’s newly elected Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that wanted to buy the AV-8B from the United States.

By Staff Sgt. Matthew Orr, via Wikimedia Commons

A team charged with national security affairs had met U.S. officials before the elections and signal their intention to import the fighter in 2019.

The move is a precursor towards developing an indigenous short take-off and vertical landing fighter (STOVL) by Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC).

AIDC informed the DPP that the company would require 13 years to master the technology required for thrust vectoring nozzle. Using the IDF fighter as a basis, another 13 years are needed to produce a prototype.

The program will also face obstacles from Britain as the Pegasus engine technology belongs to Rolls Royce. The RoCAF must also be persuaded to give up its hope of obtaining the F-35B.

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