TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said Monday that the military would purchase new trainer aircraft in 2028 if the necessary budget is approved.
Koo said that while the T-34C aircraft are still within their service lives, the defense ministry seeks to finalize a proposal for new trainer aircraft by the end of next May, CNA reported.
On June 2, two pilots were killed after the T-34C trainer aircraft they were flying crashed near the northern end of the runway at Gangshan Air Base in Kaohsiung. The pilots were simulating an engine failure.
The Air Force introduced 49 US-made T-34C trainer aircraft in 1985 as entry-level training platforms for student pilots. However, their long service life, lack of ejection seats, and fewer spare parts have raised concerns about their continued use.
Military and industry assessments said that after programs such as the F-16V upgrade and the development of the Brave Eagle advanced trainer, around 200 Taiwanese companies can now participate in building a new basic trainer aircraft, with a potential domestic production rate exceeding 70%, per CNA.
Earlier this year, Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation Chair Tsao Chin-ping (曹進平) said the company has invested NT$170 million (US$5.38 million) in developing key components for a new trainer aircraft. It aims to secure a domestic production project, which could boost the local aerospace industry, retain talent, and enhance Taiwan’s global competitiveness in aviation.
