Brave Eagle advanced jet trainer
The Brave Eagle advanced jet trainer (AJT) is a domestically produced new advanced trainer aircraft designed and developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) under a commission from the ROCAF, in collaboration with AIDC (Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation). It aims to replace the AT-3 trainer and F-5 LIFT aircraft, thereby improving the Air Force’s flight training efficiency.
This project aligns with the national policy of domestic aircraft development. NCSIST served as the prime contractor, responsible for system integration, avionics and flight control software design, the Ground Based Training Systems (GBTS), wind tunnel testing and special environment testing, full-aircraft structural stress and fatigue testing, and the development of the command/launch computer/IFF interrogator/capture hook/rubber fuel tanks.
The project took three years to develop. The first aircraft rolled off the production line on September 24, 2019. Production is expected to reach 66 aircraft by the end of 2026, achieving a self-sufficiency rate of approximately 55%. Fleet management, life-cycle maintenance, and performance upgrades are all within NCSIST’s control, meeting the ROCAF readiness requirements and achieving the goal of self-developed and self-manufactured aircraft.