AR48108 ROCAF F-CK-IC CHING-KUO INDIGENOUS DEFENSE FIGHTER

The AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-Kuo is a modern Taiwanese jet light fighter. The prototype flight took place in 1989. Four years later, the machine entered the line in the Taiwanese Air Force and remains in it today. In total, about 130 copies of this aircraft were created. The drive is provided by two motors turbo-fan ITEC Garrett / AIDAC TFE1042-70 . The aircraft has a maximum speed of 1.8 Ma and a maximum range of 1,100 kilometers. The deck armament is a single 20mm M61A1 cannon. In the late 1970s, the Republic of China (Taiwan) faced the need to replace many older American-made aircraft, such as the F-100 or F-101. However, due to the change in US foreign policy aimed at normalizing relations with China (PRC), the government of that country did not agree to sell the finished product to Taiwan. As a result, it was decided to develop their own plane, which finally turned out to be the AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-Kuo. The machine, however, was created with the significant participation of American companies. The new Taiwanese fighter is characterized by good performance, high maneuverability (it uses a fly-by-wire system) and high-class on-board electronics with Doppler radar. There are also versions of the F-CK-1C (single-seat model) and F-CK-1D (two-seat model), which have even better electronics and a radar system.