AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo#Variants

The preliminary search for a replacement for the ROCAF's F-5s and F-104s began with the XF-6 indigenous fighter project, later renamed Ying Yang, in the late 1970s. After the US established formal relations with China and ended the Mutual Defense Treaty with Taiwan, President Chiang Ching-Kuo decided to expand the indigenous defense industry and on August 28, 1980, ordered AIDC to design an indigenous interceptor. Originally, the ROCAF listed the priority of the XF-6 behind the XA-3 Lei Ming single seat attack aircraft, due to the believed high risks of the XF-6 project.{{Cite book|author=Hua Hsi-Chun|title=Fighter's Sky|publisher=Commonwealth publishing|year=1999|language=zh}}

The signing of the 1982 US-China Joint Communiqué limited arms sales to Taiwan. The United States refused to sell the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon and the Northrop F-20 Tigershark (which had been developed largely to meet Taiwanese national defense needs for an advanced jet fighter to replace their older F-5 jet fightersLake 1996, pp. 29–30.) thereby ensuring the continuation of the indigenous fighter project. Although US President Ronald Reagan reluctantly accepted his advisers' suggestion of building relations with China to counter the USSR, Reagan decided to balance the 1982 US-PRC Communiqué with the "Six Assurances" to Taiwan. This opened the door for US technology transfer and assistance to Taiwan's defense industry, including the IDF project.Lake 1996, p. 30.

File:IDF Pre-production.jpg

The AIDC officially began the IDF development project in May 1982 following the ROCAF's failure to purchase new fighters from the United States as a result of Chinese diplomatic pressure. The project, led by Hsi-Chun Mike Hua, later known as the father of the Indigenous Defense Fighter,{{cite web|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/01/26/2003663838|access-date=2022-01-18|date=2017-01-26|title=Aeronautics developer Mike Hua dies aged 92|publisher=Taipei Times}} was named An-Hsiang (安翔, Safe Flight)Lake 1996, pp. 30–31. and divided into four sections in 1983:

• Ying-Yang (鷹揚): "Soaring Eagle". Development of the airframe. Some cooperation with General Dynamics.
• Yun-Han (雲漢): "Galaxy". Development of the aircraft powerplant and propulsion. Cooperation with Garrett (Now Honeywell).
• Tien-Lei (天雷): "Thunder". Development of the avionics systems. Some cooperation with Smiths Industries, with some components purchased directly from Lear Astronics (today a subsidiary of BAE), Litton (today a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman) and Martin-Baker.
• Tien-Chien (天劍): "Sky Sword". Development of air-to-air missiles.

In April 1997 American company Litton's Applied Technology division was awarded a production contract and options totaling $116.2 million by the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation for Improved Radar Warning Receivers (IRWR) to be installed aboard.

Exports of advanced engines such as the General Electric F404 or the Pratt & Whitney F100 were not available to Taiwan and both the General Electric J85 and General Electric J79 were considered unsuitable in their performance, and most European and American engine companies declined to cooperate with the project. Joint investment with Garrett became the only practical solution.

In 1978, following the success of the TFE731 engine, U.S. engine company Garrett announced joint research of the TFE1042 afterburner with the Swedish company Volvo Flygmotor. The TFE731 Model 1042 was touted as a low bypass ratio "military derivative of the proven commercial TFE731 engine" and that it would provide "efficient, reliable, cost effective propulsion for the next generation of light strike and advanced trainer aircraft", with a thrust of 4260 lbf (18.9 kN) dry and 6790 lbf (30.2 kN) with afterburner.{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}} After the initial negotiation, the investment was going to be divided between Garrett, Volvo, AIDC, and the Italian company Piaggio. The development would consist of the non-afterburning TFE1042-6 for light attack aircraft and advanced trainers, and the TFE1042-7 for the AMX or the F-5 upgrade. AIDC also suggested upgrading the TFE1042-7 to {{convert|8000|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} thrust in a twin-engine installation, in order to compete with the GE F404. However, the JAS 39 Gripen project decided to continue with a single F404, and Piaggio asked to participate at a later date due to financial concerns.{{Citation needed|date=July 2016}}

ITEC completely redesigned the TFE1042-7 into the TFE1042-70 – for example, the bypass ratio was changed from 0.84 to 0.4, and the investment had increased from US$180 million to about US$320 million. However, to avoid pressures from China, the US government had asked all American companies cooperating with the Taiwan on the IDF project to remain low-key. Therefore, the perception that "the TFE1042 is merely the civilian engine TFE731 with an afterburner" was never completely dispelled.{{Citation needed|date=July 2008}}

In 1985, the preliminary review of the IDF's design revealed some performance requirement shortfalls, and it was determined that an upgrade of engine thrust by 10% was the simplest solution. Due to American export license restrictions, ITEC used FADEC to artificially limit the thrust below a certain altitude (the restriction was not removed until 1990). Although the upgrade essentially used the TFE1088-11 configuration, to reduce political interference ITEC renamed the original, lower-thrust version as the TFE1042-X70 and retained the TFE1042-70 designation for the upgraded version.{{Citation needed|date=July 2008}}

In 1988, ITEC decided to invest in the {{convert|12000|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} thrust TFE1088-12, which was re-designated as the TFE1042-70A for political reason as well. Preliminary studies had shown that the IDF could supercruise with the new engine. At the same time, General Electric Aviation decided to enter the market with the J101/SF, a smaller version of the F404. However, after the IDF order was cut in half due to budget concerns, the TFE1088-12 engine upgrade plan ended as well.{{Cite book|last=Hua|first=Hsi-Chun|title=Story of Yun Han|year=1997|publisher=China Productivity Center|language=zh}}

File:Aircraft over Tainan 2.JPG]]

File:AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo (36754649465).jpg

The cooperation between AIDC and General Dynamics (GD) was divided into four phases:

• GD analyzed the ROCAF's aircraft performance and force requirements.
• Taiwan assessed GD's reports and chose between AIDC's original design and GD's new design.
• AIDC sent personnel to GD for the preliminary design phase.
• GD sent personnel to Taiwan to complete the project.

GD's assistance was restricted by the US State Department's arms export control, which limited GD's work to initial design consulting but not further development, production, or marketing.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090612110128/http://www.hmhfp.info/dcm/IDF_Aniv.html IDF 20th year roll out recollection. Retrieved Sept 14, 2009.]

Many different airframe design concepts were explored (e.g. the 2D Thrust-Vectoring nozzle of XX-201, the double delta wings/twin tailed 401). After the General Electric J79 was officially abandoned as the potential engine solution in 1983, three configurations emerged from AIDC.{{Citation needed|date=July 2016}}

• Configuration A was similar to the F-5E.
• Configuration B was similar to the Eurofighter Typhoon and Saab Gripen.
• Configuration C was similar to the F-15.

At the same time, GD worked on the G configuration in parallel. Eventually the G-4 was selected, but with many features of the C-2 integrated. During this time, the project was named the "Light Weight Defense Fighter". In 1985, the configuration conceptual design had evolved into the SE-1 preliminary design. By the end of 1985, AIDC decided to skip the prototype stage and go into Full Scale Development (FSD) directly, in order to reduce time and save money. The project was again renamed into the "Indigenous Defense Fighter". Four FSD aircraft were made, with three single-seaters and one double-seater.{{Cite book|last=Yang|first=Pao-Chih|title=Soaring Eagle: A Development Story of Taiwan's Indigenous Defense Fighter|publisher=Yun Hao Publishing|language=zh}}

File:AIDC F-CK-1A (cockpit).jpg

The IDF is equipped with a GD-53 Golden Dragon multi-mode monopulse pulse-Doppler radar, which is based on the General Electric AN/APG-67 X band radar developed for the F-20 while sharing some components and technologies of the AN/APG-66 radar of the F-16A, and using a larger antenna than used by the F-20. and this adaptation resulted in the look-down and shoot-down capability of GD-53 being greatly enhanced in comparison to that of the original AN/APG-67, reaching that of the AN/APG-66. The radar can simultaneously track 10 targets and engage two of the 10 targets tracked with TC-2 active radar seeker BVRAAMs.{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}}

The design is inherently unstable in pitch, so the IDF incorporated a modern triple-redundant full authority fly-by-wire control system. The avionics suite was based on modular architecture with dual redundant MIL-STD-1553B digital databuses. The Honeywell H423 inertial navigation system, the TWS-95 RHAWS, and a Bendix-King head-up display were selected.Lake 1996, pp. 34–35. Some capabilities may have been delayed or dropped in order to meet the performance requirement, since the engine limitation has resulted in the necessity of strict weight control.{{Citation needed|date=July 2016}}

The CSIST's Tien Chien (Sky Sword) project was slightly more independent, since it was considered to be a development for all the ROCAF's aircraft rather than only the IDF. The Tien Chien 1 (TC-1) is a short range infrared-seeking missile with an external configuration similar to that of the AIM-9 Sidewinder,Lake 1996, pp. 35–36. while the Tien Chien 2 (TC-2) is an active radar homing Beyond Visual Range missile.

The first test firing of the TC-1 missile was performed by an F-5E in April 1986, with the Beech target drone successfully destroyed. Initial production of the TC-1 began in 1989, and it entered service in 1991. Both the AIM-9 and the TC-1 have been seen in use on operational IDFs.

CSIST is believed to have cooperated with Motorola and Raytheon on the TC-2's active seeker, which is believed to be based on their seeker design which was proposed for the AIM-120. 40 pre-production TC-2 missiles were produced before 1995, and were the only BVR AAMs that the ROCAF had in its inventory during the 1995–96 Taiwan Strait Missile Crisis. Over 200 production TC-2s were originally planned.{{Citation needed|date=July 2016}}

During the F-CK-1's development, it was tapped as the secondary delivery vehicle for the Taiwanese nuclear weapons then in development. The primary delivery method was to be the Sky Horse missile. Weapons designers at CSIST were instructed to design the nuclear weapon to fit within the dimensions of the F-CK-1's centerline drop tank (~50 cm diameter). Modifications to the aircraft would have been required for it to obtain the desired 1,000 km range (especially without the centerline drop tank available) and were envisioned to include more efficient non-afterburning engines. The F-CK-1 would not have been able to fulfill the nuclear strike mission until mid-1989 at the very earliest. Early designs called for an unpowered gravity bomb. The nuclear weapons program was shut down under US pressure before the F-CK-1 entered service and the dedicated nuclear strike variant was never produced.{{cite book |last1=ANDREA STRICKER |first1=DAVID ALBRIGHT AND |title=TAIWAN'S FORMER NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM |date=2018 |publisher=institute for science and international security |isbn=978-1727337334 |url=http://isis-online.org/uploads/isis-reports/documents/TaiwansFormerNuclearWeaponsProgram_POD_color_withCover.pdf |access-date=5 August 2019}}

The first stage of upgrades to the fleet was originally planned to be completed by 2013, and was planned to include improved avionics, radar, electronics, weapons capabilities and lifespan extensions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/taiwan/2013/taiwan-130101-cna01.htm|title=Taiwan to complete 1st upgrades to locally made fighters in 2013|website=www.globalsecurity.org}} In May 2014, the ROC Air Force made photos of the fighters with enhanced Wan Chien long-range missile capabilities public.{{Cite news

| last = Joseph Yeh

| title = Military's upgraded IDF jet fleet photos go public

| work = The China Post

| access-date = 2014-05-23

| date = 2014-05-22

| url = http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2014/05/22/408304/Militarys-upgraded.htm

}} The upgrade program was finally completed in 2018.{{cite web |last1=Chuanren |first1=Chen |title=Taiwan's Ching-kuo Upgrade Complete, SEAD Role Next |url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2018-03-20/taiwans-ching-kuo-upgrade-complete-sead-role-next |website=www.ainonline.com |publisher=AIN Online |access-date=4 July 2020}}

Four{{cite magazine |last1=Taylor |first1=John W.R. |last2=Munson |first2=Kenneth |date=February 1995 |title=Gallery of South Asian Airpower |url= |magazine=Air Force Magazine |volume=78 |issue=2 |location=Arlington, Virginia, USA |publisher=Air Force Association |pages=48–63 |access-date=}} "Full Scale Development" units were produced; three single-seaters followed by a two-seater. The first successful test flight by single-seater FSD A1 was made on May 28, 1989.Lake 1996, p. 39. The two-seater FSD B1 conducted its first flight on July 10, 1990.{{cite web |title=IDF Ching-Kuo Fighter Product Introduction |publisher=AIDC |access-date=2006-10-15 |url=http://www.aidc.com.tw/AIDCsite/twn4/twn4_1a.htm |language=zh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061010171348/http://www.aidc.com.tw/AIDCsite/twn4/twn4_1a.htm |archive-date=2006-10-10 |url-status=dead }}

Production of ten pre-production units began in October 1990.{{cite magazine |last1=Doke |first1=DeeDee |date=August 11, 1999 |title=Weathering the storm: Taiwan's aerospace industry faces formidable hurdles on the road to privatisation |url= |magazine=Flight International |publisher= DVV Media International Ltd. |pages=36 |access-date=}} The first four were delivered in March 1992 and the last in 1993.{{cite book |editor-last=Forsberg |editor-first=Randall |author-link= |date=1994 |title=The Arms Production Dilemma: Contraction and Restraint in the World Combat Aircraft Industry |url= |location= |publisher=MIT Press |page=248 |isbn=9780262560856}}

Mechanical defects caused two crashes, one in 1991 and one in 1993, during pre-production.{{cite conference |url= |title=Crisis, What Crisis?---Lessons of the 1996 Tension and the ROC View of Security in the Taiwan Strait |last1=Yang |first1=Andrew Nien-Dzu |date=1998 |publisher=RAND Corporation |book-title=In China's Shadow: Regional Perspectives on Chinese Foreign Policy and Military Development |pages=143–153 |location= |conference=Chinese Security Policy and the Future of Asia |isbn=0-8330-2591-0 |id=CF-137-CAPP}}

File:ROCAF F-CK-1B 1607 Taxiing at Ching Chuang Kang Air Force Base 20161126b.jpg

The ROCAF's initial order for 256 aircraft was cut to 130 in 1991, following deals for the purchase of 150 F-16 Block 20 A/B and 60 Mirage 2000-5Ei/Di with the US and France.Lake 1996, pp. 40–41. The 130 included 28 two-seaters and the 10 pre-production units.

The first production units were delivered in early 1994, and the program concluded in 2000.{{cite magazine |last1=Penney |first1=Stewart |date=August 15, 2000 |title=Taiwan to develop IDF variant |url= |magazine=Flight International |publisher= DVV Media International Ltd. |pages=14 |access-date=}}

The first squadron entered service during the latter part of the 1994.{{cite journal |last1=Lee |first1=Wei-Chin |date=Spring 1996 |title=The Development of Taiwan's Commercial Aircraft Manufacturing Industry |url= |journal=Asian Affairs: An American Review |volume=23 |issue=1 |pages=34–63 |publisher=Taylor & Francis, Ltd. |doi= 10.1080/00927678.1996.9933719|access-date=}}

Mid-life updates to the aircraft were initiated in 2011.{{cite news|last1=Cole|first1=J. Michael|title=Air force receives first upgraded fighters|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2011/07/01/2003507122|access-date=1 December 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=1 July 2011}}{{cite news|last1=Cole|first1=J. Michael|title=Jet deals to keep state-owned firm busy|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2011/08/13/2003510616|access-date=1 December 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=13 August 2011}}

File:F-CK-1C&D Fighter Model Display at AIDC Booth 20150815a.jpg

File:AIDC F-CK-1 Brave Hawk.jpg

File:F-CK-1 cockpit.jpg

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced that beginning in 2001, the government would include a new budget allocation for the IDF upgrade plan (as included in the five MND proposals to help AIDC). The five proposals were:

• Upgrades of the AT-3, IDF, and F-5 would be assigned to AIDC in the future.
• The Army Utility Helicopter, the Navy's long range ASW aircraft, a helicopter for the Marines, and an Air Force medium transport will all be produced and assembled by qualifying domestic firms in conjunction with the foreign firms that originally designed them.
• NCSIST and AIDC will jointly assemble a team for the early planning of the ROCAF's next generation fighter, in order to assess procurement methods and suggest concepts.
• AIDC's joint ventures with foreign firms or alliances with domestic firms will be given high priority in military aircraft service and maintenance.
• In the future, the military will give responsibility for weapons system flight tests, electronic warfare exercises, air towing drones, avionics maintenance, and weapons procurement planning to AIDC, in situations where AIDC has the professional capacity that the military lack.{{cite news|title=Improve Ching-Kuo Fighter Performance, FY90 Allocate Ten Million Budget|author=Yeh Kun-Lang|date=2000-08-12|publisher= ETtoday|language=zh}} This is part of the seven-year IDF C/D R&D plan (FY2001~FY2007), which allocates 10 million New Taiwanese Dollars (NTD) annually for a total of 70 million NTD for both CSIST and AIDC. Initial media reports indicated that the upgraded IDF would be called the "Joint Countermeasure Platform".{{cite news | title=IDF R&D for defensive counterattack capability | date=2000-07-31 | publisher= United Daily | language=zh}}

In 2001, it was reported that development of a new "stealth" variant with more powerful engines and improved fire-control system would commence that year.{{Cite book |last=Van Vranken Hickey|first=Dennis |url= |title=The Armies of East Asia: China, Taiwan, Japan, and the Koreas |location= Boulder, CO |year= 2001 |publisher= Lynne Rienner |page= 122 |isbn= 978-1-55587992-1 |access-date=|url-access=}} In a 2006 interview with Jane's Defence Weekly, former AIDC Chairman Sun Tao-Yu said that two new prototypes had been manufactured. The upgrade would allow the IDF to carry an additional 771 kg of fuel. In addition, it includes an improved avionics suite, retrofitted electronic warfare capabilities, and new weapons systems. The landing gear has been strengthened to accommodate the additional payload and fuel, but the plan for a dielectric radar-absorbing "stealth" fuselage was dropped due to concerns over weight. The project consists of three phases:

• Increase the carrying capacity for the TC-2 beyond-visual range air-to-air missile from two to four. Integrate the TC-2A anti-radiation missile and the Wan Chien cluster bomb. In addition, two conformal fuel tanks were seen on the two newly built prototype aircraft, these are not seen on production upgrades.{{cite web |last1=Yeo |first1=Mike |title=Taiwan fighter jets get new electronic warfare capabilities in latest upgrade |url=https://www.defensenews.com/air/2017/12/21/taiwan-fighter-jets-get-new-electronic-warfare-capabilities-in-latest-upgrade/ |website=defensenews.com |date=21 December 2017 |publisher=Defense News |access-date=7 June 2019}}
• Upgrade the mission computers, the electronic counter-countermeasures, the electronic warfare systems, the Active Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) system and the terrain-following radar.
• Ground and air testing.{{Cite news |title=Jane's says Taiwan ready to test upgraded fighters |date=2006-04-17 |publisher=Taiwan News |url=http://english.www.gov.tw/TaiwanHeadlines/index.jsp?categid=8&recordid=93611 |access-date=2006-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060428193524/http://english.www.gov.tw/TaiwanHeadlines/index.jsp?categid=8&recordid=93611 |archive-date=2006-04-28 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news|title=Improved version of Indigenous Defense Fighter to be tested|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2006/04/17/2003303112|date=2006-04-17|publisher= Taipei Times|access-date=2006-10-18| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060910135525/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2006/04/17/2003303112| archive-date= 10 September 2006 | url-status= live}}

The development contract for the upgraded 32-bit IDF C/D flight control computer was awarded in 2002 to BAE Systems. AIDC said that the improvements of the flight computer will result in "a safer, higher-performing aircraft.”{{Cite news|title=BAE SYSTEMS Flight Control Computer Flies on Taiwan's Newest Fighter|publisher=BAE press release via Business Wire|date=2006-11-06|url=http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20061106005723&newsLang=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927194153/http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20061106005723&newsLang=en|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-09-27|access-date=2006-11-06}} Other improvements made include enhanced electronic warfare capabilities, a strengthened landing gear and a digital anti-skid system. The upgrade also included new indigenous flight control software ending the reliance on US controlled source code.{{cite web |last1=Pocock |first1=Chris |title=AIDC aims for greater role as aerospace sector supplier |url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2010-01-28/aidc-aims-greater-role-aerospace-sector-supplier |website=www.ainonline.com |publisher=AIN Online |access-date=8 August 2019}}

The first test flight of the upgraded IDF was reportedly successfully completed a few days ahead of schedule in early October.{{Cite news|title=Upgraded fighter jet test flight said completed - report|date=2006-10-06|publisher=Taiwan News|url=http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=247452&lang=eng_news&cate_img=logo_taiwan&cate_rss=TAIWAN_eng|access-date=2006-10-06|archive-date=2008-03-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320105203/http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=247452&lang=eng_news&cate_img=logo_taiwan&cate_rss=TAIWAN_eng|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|title=First 12 Mass Production Enters Service, J-10's Zhe-Jiang Deployment Threatens Our Fighters|date=2007-01-21|publisher=China Times online edition|language=zh|url=http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/070120/4/9ljl.html}}{{dead link|date=July 2011}}{{Cite news|author=Hsu Shao-Hsuan|title=Hsiang Sheng Two Seat Aircraft, successful first flight yesterday|date=2007-03-16|publisher=Liberty Times|language=zh|url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2007/new/mar/16/today-p5.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023075804/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2007/new/mar/16/today-p5.htm|archive-date=2012-10-23}}

On March 27, 2007, President Chen Shui-Bian witnessed a test flight of F-CK-1D, and announced that the upgraded IDF will be named Hsiung Ying (Brave Hawk), which signifies that the new fighter would protect the homeland just like the Crested Goshawk.{{Cite news|author=Chen Yi-Wei|title=Hsiang Sheng Result Displayed, President Named The New Fighter As Hsiung Ying|date=2007-03-27|access-date=2007-03-27|publisher= Central News Agency|language=zh|url=http://news.yam.com/cna/politics/200703/20070327073257.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712001706/http://news.yam.com/cna/politics/200703/20070327073257.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-07-12}}

As of 12/2009, 71 F-CK-1 A/B are upgrading to F-CK-1 C/D over 4 years span for over US$500 million, according to AIDC CEO, under Project Hsiang Chan (翔展), as AIDC and ROCAF had signed a contract for the expected upgrade program.{{Cite news|title=AIDC CEO confirms signing of IDF Hsigang Sheng upgrade project |publisher=China Times |date=2009-12-08 |url=http://news.chinatimes.com/2007Cti/2007Cti-News/2007Cti-News-Content/0,4521,11050202+122009120900138,00.html |access-date=2009-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213145436/http://news.chinatimes.com/2007Cti/2007Cti-News/2007Cti-News-Content/0%2C4521%2C11050202%2B122009120900138%2C00.html |archive-date=13 December 2009 |url-status=dead }}

In 2018 AIDC delivered the last upgraded F-CK-1 C/D to the Republic of China Air Force.{{cite web |title=AIDC Delivers the Last Advanced Function IDF C/D Models to ROCAF |url=https://www.aidc.com.tw/en/news/344 |website=aidc.com.tw |publisher=AIDC |access-date=9 May 2019}}

{{update section|date=February 2020}}

According to the media, the AIDC IDF trainer concept apparently involved the removal of the fire control radar and combat systems with the retention of rear-seat flight controls, so that the IDF could be used as a lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT). The ROCAF seemed to have reservations with the concept, however, as it would mean the IDF LIFT would not be usable in wartime.{{cite news|author=Lu Chao-Lung|title = AIDC Urges The Birth of IDF Variant | date =2000-07-15 | publisher= China Times | language = zh}} A MND letter said, "Regarding the newspaper report of AIDC's desire to use the IDF fighter as a basis for supersonic trainer development, it is only that company's operational planning concept. The Ministry of National Defense and the Air Force currently do not have such a plan". The letter then said that due to a tight budget allocation the ROCAF would instead ask AIDC to extend the life of the AT-3 and continue to use the F-5 in the LIFT role.{{Citation|author=ROC Ministry of National Defense|title=ROC Executive Yuan Letter #904492, ROC Legislative Yuan Letter #4-3-32-4280|work=ROC Legislative Yuan Communiqué Vol 89 #50 Yuan Record|publisher=ROC Legislative Yuan|date=2000-08-14|language=zh}}

In 2003, the former AIDC Chairman Huang Jung-Te said that AIDC still hoped the ROCAF would consider using a simplified version of the IDF for LIFT, and that such a concept could have a cost as low as US$16 million per unit, compared to the T-50's 19 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.aidc.com.tw/AIDCsite/twnpub/news.asp?Sno=58|author=Cheng Chi-Wen|title=Interview: AIDC Chairman, General Huang Jung-Te|date=2003-04-04|publisher=DIIC Magazine via AIDC website|language=zh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510014841/http://www.aidc.com.tw/AIDCsite/twnpub/news.asp?Sno=58 |archive-date=2007-05-10}} However, the F-CK-1 LIFT modifications or new production concepts never received government funding or approval.

In May 2006, Lt. General Cheng Shih-Yu testified that the MND indeed plans to retire the F-5E/F by 2010 and allow the in-service IDFs to take over training missions.{{cite news |title=MND Plans To Buy New Fighter Planes |url=http://english.www.gov.tw/TaiwanHeadlines/index.jsp?recordid=20490&action=CNA |date=2006-05-18 |access-date=2006-10-16 |publisher=Central News Agency |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829025716/http://english.www.gov.tw/TaiwanHeadlines/index.jsp?recordid=20490&action=CNA |archive-date=2007-08-29 |url-status=dead }} It is unclear what modifications (if any) will be made to IDFs after they become trainers.

The trainers produced by the program would later named AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle, and four prototypes were rolled out in 2019.

;{{flag|Taiwan}}

• Republic of China (Taiwan) Air Force – 137 aircraft, including 6 prototypes.

File:IDF F-CK-1A 1450 Display at Ching Chuang Kang AFB Apron 20140719b.jpg

File:IDF F-CK-1A 1462 Outlet Nozzles and Underloaded Weapon 20120811.jpg

File:IDF F-CK-1A 1488 Display at Ching Chuang Kang AFB Apron 20111112.jpg

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=GlobalSecurity.org Milavia,{{cite web| last=Hillebrand| first=Niels |date= 2005-09-06 |title=AIDC Ching-Kuo F-CK-1 (IDF) |publisher=Milavia |url= http://www.milavia.net/aircraft/ching-kuo/ching-kuo.htm |access-date=2006-05-14}} TaiwanAirPower.org{{cite web |author=Wei-Bin Chang |date=2006-05-27 |title= AIDC F-CK-1A/B Ching Kuo Indigenous Defense Fighter |publisher= Taiwan Air Power |url= http://www.taiwanairpower.org/af/idf.html | access-date=2006-06-18}}

|prime units?=met

|crew=1

|length m=14.21

|span m=9

|height m=4.42

|wing area sqm=24.2

|airfoil=

|empty weight kg=6486

|gross weight kg=9072

|max takeoff weight kg= 12247

|fuel capacity=

|more general=

|eng1 number=2

|eng1 name=Honeywell/ITEC F125-GA-100

|eng1 type= turbofan

|eng1 kn=27

|eng1 kn-ab=42.1

|max speed mach=1.8 (1379 mph, 2,220 km/h){{cite web|url=http://www.defenceaviation.com/2010/06/f-ck-1-ching-kuo.html|title=AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo Specification & Technical Data - Defence Aviation|date=17 June 2010}}

|range km=1100

|range note=with min. three external 1,040 L fuel tanks

|ceiling m=16,800

|thrust/weight=0.946(clean)/0.701(maximum load)

|more performance=

|guns=1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 6-barreled Gatling cannon

|missiles=

• 4× Sky Sword I
• 4× Sky Sword II
• 4× AIM-9 Sidewinder
• 4× AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles
• 2× Hsiung Feng II Anti-ship missiles
• 2x Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles{{cite web |last1=Newdick |first1=Thomas |title=Air-Launched Supersonic Anti-Ship Missile Being Tested By Taiwan |url=https://www.twz.com/air/taiwan-is-testing-an-air-launched-supersonic-anti-ship-missile |website=twz.com |publisher=The War Zone |access-date=6 March 2025}}
• 2x Wan Chien air-to-ground cruise missile

|bombs=

• 10x Mark 82 bomb
• 10x Mk-20 Rockeye II
• 3x Mark 84 bomb

|avionics=

• Radar: 1× GD-53 X-band pulse doppler (General Electric AN/APG-67(V) derivative)
• Effective scanning range:
• Look up: {{convert|57|km}}
• Look down: {{convert|39|km|abbr=on}}

}}

• Defense industry of Taiwan

{{Portal|Aviation|Taiwan}}

{{Aircontent

|related=

• AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle
• General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
• KAI T-50 Golden Eagle
• Mitsubishi F-2

|similar aircraft=

• Chengdu J-10
• Dassault Mirage 2000
• McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet
• Mikoyan MiG-29
• PAC/CAC JF-17 Thunder
• Saab JAS 39 Gripen

|lists=

• List of fighter aircraft

}}

;Notes

{{Reflist|35em}}

;Bibliography

{{Refbegin}}

• {{Cite book|editor-last=Eden|editor-first=Paul|title=The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft|location=London, UK|publisher=Amber Books, 2004|isbn=1-904687-84-9|ref={{harvid|Eden|2004}}}}
• {{Cite book|last=Wilson|first=Stewart|title=Combat Aircraft since 1945|year=2000|location=London|publisher=Aerospace Publications, 2000|isbn=1-875671-50-1}}
• {{cite journal|last=Lake|first=Jon|date=Autumn 1996|title=AIDC Ching-Kuo: The Indigenous Defence Fighter|journal=World Air Power Journal|publisher=London:Aerospace Publishing|volume=26|isbn= 1-874023-81-6|pages=28–41|issn=0959-7050}}
• {{cite book|last=Taylor|first=Michael|title=Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000 |year=1999|publisher=London: Brassey's|isbn=1-85753-245-7}}

{{Refend}}

{{Commons}}

• [http://www.aidc.com.tw/en/military/idf AIDC F-CK-1A/B official web page]
• [http://www.aidc.com.tw/en/military/fck1 AIDC F-CK-1C/D official web page]

{{AIDC aircraft}}

{{F-16 Fighting Falcon variants}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aidc F-Ck-1 Ching-Kuo}}

Category:1980s Taiwanese fighter aircraft

Category:Twinjets

F-CK-01

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1989

Category:Fourth-generation jet fighters

Category:Nuclear weapons program of the Republic of China

Category:Mid-wing aircraft