Taiwan’s China Times reported that the Taiwan government will allocate $15 million next year for state-owned Aerospace Industrial Development Corp (AIDC) to start development of a advanced jet trainer for the RoCAF.
The plan is have the new aircraft, based on AIDC’s IDF, to make its maiden flight before the current government’s term is up in 2020.
So far, sources say both AIDC and the military are deep in discussions over the specifications of the new jet and the talks are now focused on whether the aircraft should be equipped with an arresting hook for emergency landings.
China Times also mentioned that the Air Force is looking into getting a replacement for its aging T-34 turboprop trainer.