INDIGENOUS FIGHTER PLANE PROGRAM OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED|國機國造啟動 生產66架超音速高級教練機

A program to build supersonic trainer aircraft was launched yesterday. Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation will build 66 XT-5 "Blue Magpie" trainers with the first prototype expected in two years and flight tests in 2020. Upon attending the ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Defense yesterday, President Tsai said that in the future, industries should have more integration and training for aerospace personnel. The Minister of Defense Feng Shih-kuan declared a new era for Taiwan's aerospace industry, the goal is to have domestic production on indigenous jet trainers. Taiwan government wants to have indigenous jets made by domestic aerospace industry. Therefore, Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation outbid Korean and Italian companies in the bidding. Taiwan is to make 66 indigenous supersonic jet trainers with a budget of NT$68.6 billion. ==TSAI ING-WEN R.O.C. President== Our experienced talented people were either hired by foreign countries or facing retirement. However, if the development of aerospace technology is being terminated, it would be a serious disaster to our national security and industry progress. President Tsai pointed out, Taiwan's domestic aerospace industry has a firm foundation, it needs to catch up with international aerospace industry and strengthen industrial integration. The future goal is to manufacture advanced jet trainers in replacement of existing F-5 and AT-3. ==MA WAN-CHUN VP CSIST == We will fulfill the requirement issued by the Air Force. Whatever the Air Force needs, the National Chung-shan Institute of Science Technology will accommodate. We have established a complete route of production. We will execute the work step by step. The Institute stated with existing foundation and aerospace groups in Taichung, the first jet flight would be in 2020, but the time for mass production depends on when the prototype completed its testing. To reach the goal of indigenous jets made by domestic aerospace industry and catch up with jets elimination from the Air Force, the industry will face many challenges. TRANSLATED BY：ANTHONY LIN 國防部長馮世寬宣示國內航太工業走向新的紀元，國機國造政策正式啟動。新政府上任後，將國機國造定義為國人研發，國人生產，因此擠下參與競標的韓國和義大利廠商，由國內的漢翔得標，將生產66架超音速教練機，費用686億元。 ==總統 蔡英文== 有經驗的人才 不是遭到他國挖角 就是即將屆齡退休 但是航太發展的能量一旦中斷 這將是國家安全 跟產業發展的重大災難 蔡總統指示，國內航太有既定基礎，除了要贏頭趕上國際，更要加強產業連結，未來將以生產高性能的教練機，取代現行的F-5和AT-3教練機。 ==中科院副院長 馬萬鈞== 我們會依照空軍的需求 空軍有什麼樣的需求 中科院都會配合他 我們現在已經擬定了 完整的路徑圖 我們會一步步的執行這項工作 中科院表示，現在航太既有基礎之下，加上台中特有的航太產業聚落，預計在2020年可以進行首飛，不過至於正式量產時間，還要看到時候原型機測試狀況才能決定，要完全國機國造，同時趕上空軍的汰換時程，還有不少考驗和時間。 記者 林健生 台中報導