Taiwan has unveiled the first of six upgraded Ching Kuo indigenous defence fighters (IDF) at the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) in Taiwan.

The fighter, which entered service in 1992, has been refitted with improved electronics and avionics to carry more types of missiles, including an anti-radiation missile.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Go deeper with GlobalData

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The $588m upgrade programme for 71 of the 130 IDFs is expected to be completed by the end of 2012, according to The Associated Press.

Taiwan is also seeking advanced F-16 fighters from the US in a move to enhance the country’s air defence capabilities.

Airforce Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Airforce Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.


Excellence in Action
Discover how Virtualitics is transforming mission readiness with explainable AI, predictive maintenance, and data-driven decision intelligence across the U.S. Department of Defense through its AI-powered Integrated Readiness Optimization suite, for which it has won the Innovation and Business Expansion awards.

Discover the Impact