Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation
{{Short description|Company in Taiwan}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation
| native_name = {{lang|zh|漢翔航空工業股份有限公司}}
| logo = Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation logo.png
| logo_size = 140px
| type = Public
| traded_as = {{TWSE|2634}}
| foundation = 1 March 1969 (Aero Industry Development Center)
| founder =
| location_city = Taichung
| location_country = Taiwan
| locations =
| area_served =
| key_people = Kai-Hung Hu (Chairman)
Wan-June Ma (President)
| industry = Aerospace
| products = Aerospace components, avionics, fighter aircraft
| services = Aircraft maintenance
| revenue = 28.2 billion NTD (2018){{cite web |last1=Grevatt |first1=Jon |title=Taiwan's AIDC posts record revenues for 2018 |url=https://www.janes.com/article/87878/taiwan-s-aidc-posts-record-revenues-for-2018 |website=janes.com |publisher=Janes |accessdate=18 April 2019}}
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| assets =
| equity =
| num_employees =
| subsid = International Turbine Engine Company
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.aidc.com.tw/en/index.asp|www.aidc.com.tw}}
}}
File:IDF F-CK-1A Single Front View.jpg
File:Thundertigers Chih Hang AFB Show 20130601f.jpg demonstration team]]
Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC; {{lang-zh|c=漢翔航空工業股份有限公司|p=Hànxiáng Hángkōng Gōngyè Gǔfèn Yǒuxiàn Gōngsī}} 漢翔航空工業 or 漢翔航空) is a Taiwanese aerospace company based in Taichung. It is one of only two Taiwanese companies with the capabilities of a traditional American or European defense prime contractor.{{cite web | first1=Eric | last1=Du | url=https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2019/11/6/viewpoint-business-opportunities-for-us-defense-firms-abound-in-taiwan | title=VIEWPOINT: Business Opportunities for U.S. Defense Firms Abound in Taiwan | publisher=National Defense Magazine | accessdate=10 November 2019 | website=nationaldefensemagazine.org}}
History
= Government ownership =
AIDC was established on 1 March 1969 as the Aero Industry Development Center of the Air Force.Mondey, David, ed., The Complete Illustrated History of the World{{'}}s Aircraft, Secaucus, New Jersey: Chartwell Books, Inc., 1978, {{ISBN|0-89009-771-2}}, p. 72. From 1969 to 1976 AIDC co-produced 118 UH-1H's for the Taiwanese Army with Bell Helicopters.{{cite web |last1=Hsiao |first1=Edwin |title=Taiwan's military-industrial complex dominates at arms show |url=https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=6&post=8303 |website=taiwantoday.tw |publisher=Taiwan Today |accessdate=28 January 2020|date=2007-09-14 }}
In 1983, AIDC was transferred to the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology under the Armaments Bureau. In 1996, AIDC was reorganized into a government-owned company. In 1998 AIDC entered into an agreement with Sikorsky Aircraft to service the S-70 helicopter.{{cite web |first1= |title=Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC) |url=https://aviationweek.com/awin/taiwans-aerospace-industrial-development-corp-aidc |website=aviationweek.com |publisher=Aviation Daily |accessdate=9 May 2019}}
In 2000, AIDC was divided into four units: the Aerostructures Division, the Engine Division, the Technology Division, and the Administration Division. In the early 2000s AIDC was contracted by Bell to produce the tailbooms for the AH-1Z and UH-1Y.
= Public ownership =
File:09.24 總統出席「空軍新式高教機出廠典禮」 (48786064251).jpg
AIDC was privatized through a public stock offering on August 25, 2014 with the Taiwanese Government retaining a 39% stake.{{cite web |last1=Pocock |first1=Chris |title=Taiwan's Good Technical Offer Is Affected By Politics |url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2016-02-13/taiwans-good-technical-offer-affected-politics |website=ainonline.com |publisher=AIN Online |accessdate=7 June 2019}}
In 2016 AIDC launched a project with international partner Lockheed Martin to develop an upgraded version of the F-16 called the F-16V. AIDC will share revenue from all future international sales and upgrades.{{cite web |last1=Salmonsen |first1=Renée |title=Taiwan earns money off Korean fighter jet purchase |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3369953 |website=taiwannews.com.tw |publisher=Taiwan News |accessdate=7 June 2019}} Upgrades to 142 of Taiwan’s F-16A/B fighters to the F-16V standard began in 2016. The first four aircraft upgrades had been completed by December 2017 and American test pilots had arrived to begin their testing and certification.{{cite web |last1=Trevithick |first1=Joseph |title=U.S. Test Pilots Head To Taiwan To Begin Testing Their Badly Needed Upgraded F-16s |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/17216/u-s-test-pilots-head-to-taiwan-to-begin-testing-their-badly-needed-upgraded-f-16s |website=thedrive.com |publisher=The Drive |accessdate=7 June 2019}} The first domestically upgraded fighter was delivered on October 20, 2018.{{cite web |last1=Phipps |first1=Gavin |title=Taiwan takes delivery of first F-16V aircraft |url=https://www.janes.com/article/83947/taiwan-takes-delivery-of-first-f-16v-aircraft |website=janes.com |publisher=Janes |accessdate=7 June 2019}} The project is to be completed by 2023.{{cite web |last1=and Evelyn Kao |first1=Matt Yu |title=Han Kuang drills to feature F-16Vs, Perry-class frigates |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201905190009.aspx |website=focustaiwan.tw |publisher=Focus Taiwan |accessdate=7 June 2019}} In October 2019 it was announced that the program had been delayed by a manpower shortage at AIDC and a delay with the US based software testing program,{{cite web |last1=Choo |first1=Roy |title=Delays mount to Taiwan F-16V upgrade |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/delays-mount-to-taiwan-f-16v-upgrade-461729/ |website=www.flightglobal.com |publisher=Flight Global |accessdate=10 November 2019}} AIDC hired 200 additional employees in Taichung to bring production back to schedule.{{cite web |last1=Yeo |first1=Mike |title=Taiwan says F-16 upgrade back on track, as it seeks recon pods that can watch China's coastline |url=https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2019/10/18/taiwan-says-f-16-upgrade-back-on-track-as-it-seeks-recon-pods-that-can-watch-chinas-coastline/ |website=www.defensenews.com |publisher=Defense News |accessdate=10 November 2019|date=2019-10-18 }}{{cite web |last1=Dominguez |first1=Gabriel |title=RoCAF's F-16 upgrade programme is 'back on track', says Taiwanese defence minister |url=https://www.janes.com/article/92049/rocaf-s-f-16-upgrade-programme-is-back-on-track-says-taiwanese-defence-minister |website=www.janes.com |publisher=Janes |accessdate=10 November 2019}} By December 2020 18 upgrades had been completed.{{cite web |last1=Wang |first1=Flor |last2=You |first2=Matt |title=18 F-16A/B jet fighter upgrades completed |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202012030023 |website=focustaiwan.tw |publisher=Focus Taiwan |access-date=16 December 2020}}
In 2018 AIDC signed an agreement with GE for the production of 17 parts for the LEAP engine including hot section components.{{cite web |title=AIDC Builds the 4th and 5th Engine Case Manufacturing Centers |url=https://www.aidc.com.tw/en/news/365 |website=aidc.com.tw |publisher=AIDC |accessdate=9 May 2019}}
In 2019 AIDC entered into 10 year agreement to supply engine parts to Industria de Turbo Propulsores of Spain, a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce plc.{{cite web |title=AIDC and ITP Aero enter into a 10 year Engine Parts Agreement |url=https://www.aidc.com.tw/en/news/359 |website=aidc.com.tw |publisher=AIDC |accessdate=9 May 2019}} In October 2019 Boeing cut orders to AIDC which were associated with the troubled 737 MAX program as monthly production figures were decreased.{{cite web |last1=Shih-ching |first1=Kao |title=Boeing cuts orders to Taiwanese suppliers |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2019/10/18/2003724127 |website=www.taipeitimes.com |publisher=Taipei Times |accessdate=10 November 2019}} In 2019 AIDC was reported to have 2,137 employees involved in confidential projects.{{cite web |last1=Strong |first1=Matthew |title=Taiwan lawmaker voices concern over weapons developer traveling overseas |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3796893 |website=www.taiwannews.com.tw |publisher=Taiwan News |accessdate=10 November 2019}}
Facilities and equipment
In 2016 AIDC completed a NTD 1.5b composite materials manufacturing plant in Taichung. The facility, called the Taiwan Advanced Composite Center, has 5,500 square meters of floorspace and primarily produces components for the Airbus A320.{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Ted |title=New AIDC factory expected to bring in NT$1bn annually |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2016/07/04/2003650282 |website=taipeitimes.com |publisher=Taipei Times |accessdate=9 May 2019}}
AIDC operates one Astra SPX aircraft as a target tug.{{cite web |title=TRADE REGISTERS |url=http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php |website=armstrade.sipri.org |publisher=SIPRI |accessdate=28 May 2019}}
= Headquarters =
AIDC’s headquarters occupies a large suburban campus in the Northwest of Taichung next to Overseas Chinese University. The campus features historical aircraft, a restaurant, and a swimming pool for the more than 3,000 onsite employees.{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |title=Taiwan keen to boost domestic defence industry amid rising tension with Beijing |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2146014/taiwan-keen-boost-domestic-defence-industry-amid-rising |website=scmp.com |publisher=South China Morning Post |accessdate=7 June 2019|date=2018-05-14 }}
Products
=Aircraft=
- AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo Indigenous Defence Fighter - began as XF-6 indigenous fighter project
- AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle (advanced jet trainer)
- AIDC AT-3 (advanced jet trainer)
- variant XA-3 Lei Ming (single seat attack aircraft prototype)
- AIDC T-CH-1 (Basic Trainer derived from North American T-28 Trojan)
- AIDC PL-1B (Primary Trainer and licensed version of Pazmany PL-1, a two-seat trainer from Pazmany Aircraft Corporation)
- AIDC XC-2 (Civil transport, prototype only)
- UH-1H (utility helicopter and licensed version from Bell Helicopter)
- OH-58D (Observation, attack and reconnaissance helicopter and licensed version from Bell Helicopter)
- F-5E/F Chung Cheng (license built and locally modified Northrop F-5){{cite web |last1=Waldron |first1=Greg |title=USAF looks to help Taiwan with F-5 spares |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-looks-to-help-taiwan-with-f-5-spares-457868/ |website=flightglobal.com |publisher=Flight Global |accessdate=30 May 2019}}
===Components===
- Doors for all Boeing 737 aircraft since 2003{{cite web |last1=Shih-ching |first1=Kao |title=taipeitimes.com |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2019/04/12/2003713226 |website=taipeitimes.com |publisher=Taipei Times |accessdate=18 April 2019}}
- Cockpit for Sikorsky S-92{{cite web |title=Sikorsky S/H-92/Cockpit |url=http://www.aidc.com.tw/en/commercial/s92 |website=aidc.com.tw |publisher=AIDC |accessdate=18 April 2019}}
- Rear Fuselage, Engine Pylon and the Vertical and Horizontal Stabilizer for Challenger 300/350{{cite web |title=Bombardier CL-350/Empennage |url=http://www.aidc.com.tw/en/commercial/cl350 |website=aidc.com.tw |publisher=AIDC |accessdate=18 April 2019}}
- Composite belly panels for the Airbus A320 and Airbus A321{{cite web |last1=Derber |first1=Alex |title=Taiwan's AIDC To Supply A320 Panels |url=https://www.mro-network.com/manufacturing-distribution/taiwan-s-aidc-supply-a320-panels |website=mro-network.com |publisher=Informa |accessdate=19 April 2019}}
- Both designed and produces five composite components for the Mitsubishi MRJ{{cite news |last1=Ko |first1=Shu-Ling |title=Taiwanese supplier for Japan's new regional passenger jet plans to deliver essential parts in second quarter |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/01/25/business/corporate-business/taiwanese-supplier-japans-delay-prone-regional-jet-plans-deliver-essential-parts-second-quarter/#.XLkUQ7bMwcg |newspaper=The Japan Times Online |publisher=Japan Times |accessdate=19 April 2019|date=2019-01-25 }}
- Honeywell/ITEC F124 produced in partnership with Honeywell.
- Cooperation on the Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 Advance 2 engine{{cite web |last1=Strong |first1=Matthew |title=Taiwan's AIDC optimistic about engine part supplies to Rolls-Royce |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4290141 |website=Taiwan News |publisher=www.taiwannews.com.tw |access-date=17 September 2021}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [http://www.aidc.com.tw/ Official Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation website]
{{AIDC aircraft}}
{{Wikisourcelang|zh|漢翔航空工業股份有限公司設置條例}}