Wikipedia

Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation

Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC; Chinese: 漢翔航空工業股份有限公司; pinyin: Hànxiáng Hángkōng Gōngyè Gǔfèn Yǒuxiàn Gōngsī 漢翔航空工業 or 漢翔航空) is a Taiwanese aerospace company based in Taichung. It is one of only two Taiwanese companies with the capabilities of a traditional American or European defense prime contractor.[2]

Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation
Native name
漢翔航空工業股份有限公司
Company typePublic
TWSE: 2634
IndustryAerospace
Founded1 March 1969 (Aero Industry Development Center)
Headquarters
Taichung
,
Taiwan
Key people
Kai-Hung Hu (Chairman)
Wan-June Ma (President)
ProductsAerospace components, avionics, fighter aircraft
ServicesAircraft maintenance
Revenue28.2 billion NTD (2018)[1]
SubsidiariesInternational Turbine Engine Company
Websitewww.aidc.com.tw
AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo
AT-3s of the Thunder Tigers demonstration team

History

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Government ownership

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AIDC was established on 1 March 1969 as the Aero Industry Development Center of the Air Force.[3] From 1969 to 1976 AIDC co-produced 118 UH-1H's for the Taiwanese Army with Bell Helicopters.[4]

In 1983, AIDC was transferred to the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology under the Armaments Bureau. In 1996, AIDC was reorganized into a government-owned company.[4] In 1998 AIDC entered into an agreement with Sikorsky Aircraft to service the S-70 helicopter.[5]

In 2000, AIDC was divided into four units: the Aerostructures Division, the Engine Division, the Technology Division, and the Administration Division. In the early 2000s AIDC was contracted by Bell to produce the tailbooms for the AH-1Z and UH-1Y.[4]

Public ownership

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T-5 prototype at rollout

AIDC was privatized through a public stock offering on August 25, 2014 with the Taiwanese Government retaining a 39% stake.[6]

In 2016 AIDC launched a project with international partner Lockheed Martin to develop an upgraded version of the F-16 called the F-16V. AIDC will share revenue from all future international sales and upgrades.[7] Upgrades to 142 of Taiwan’s F-16A/B fighters to the F-16V standard began in 2016. The first four aircraft upgrades had been completed by December 2017 and American test pilots had arrived to begin their testing and certification.[8] The first domestically upgraded fighter was delivered on October 20, 2018.[9] The project is to be completed by 2023.[10] In October 2019 it was announced that the program had been delayed by a manpower shortage at AIDC and a delay with the US based software testing program,[11] AIDC hired 200 additional employees in Taichung to bring production back to schedule.[12][13] By December 2020 18 upgrades had been completed.[14]

In 2018 AIDC signed an agreement with GE for the production of 17 parts for the LEAP engine including hot section components.[15]

In 2019 AIDC entered into 10 year agreement to supply engine parts to Industria de Turbo Propulsores of Spain, a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce plc.[16] In October 2019 Boeing cut orders to AIDC which were associated with the troubled 737 MAX program as monthly production figures were decreased.[17] In 2019 AIDC was reported to have 2,137 employees involved in confidential projects.[18]

Facilities and equipment

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In 2016 AIDC completed a NTD 1.5b composite materials manufacturing plant in Taichung. The facility, called the Taiwan Advanced Composite Center, has 5,500 square meters of floorspace and primarily produces components for the Airbus A320.[19]

AIDC operates one Astra SPX aircraft as a target tug.[20]

Headquarters

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AIDC’s headquarters occupies a large suburban campus in the Northwest of Taichung next to Overseas Chinese University. The campus features historical aircraft, a restaurant, and a swimming pool for the more than 3,000 onsite employees.[21]

Products

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IDF F-CK-1A 1462 Outlet Nozzles and Underloaded Weapons
 
AIDC AT-3 - Thunder Tiger Aerobatics
 
Republic of China Air Force PL-1B primary trainer
 
AIDC T-CH-1

Aircraft

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Components

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Grevatt, Jon. "Taiwan's AIDC posts record revenues for 2018". janes.com. Janes. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  2. ^ Du, Eric. "VIEWPOINT: Business Opportunities for U.S. Defense Firms Abound in Taiwan". nationaldefensemagazine.org. National Defense Magazine. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  3. ^ Mondey, David, ed., The Complete Illustrated History of the World's Aircraft, Secaucus, New Jersey: Chartwell Books, Inc., 1978, ISBN 0-89009-771-2, p. 72.
  4. ^ a b c Hsiao, Edwin (2007-09-14). "Taiwan's military-industrial complex dominates at arms show". taiwantoday.tw. Taiwan Today. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC)". aviationweek.com. Aviation Daily. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  6. ^ Pocock, Chris. "Taiwan's Good Technical Offer Is Affected By Politics". ainonline.com. AIN Online. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  7. ^ Salmonsen, Renée. "Taiwan earns money off Korean fighter jet purchase". taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  8. ^ Trevithick, Joseph. "U.S. Test Pilots Head To Taiwan To Begin Testing Their Badly Needed Upgraded F-16s". thedrive.com. The Drive. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  9. ^ Phipps, Gavin. "Taiwan takes delivery of first F-16V aircraft". janes.com. Janes. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  10. ^ and Evelyn Kao, Matt Yu. "Han Kuang drills to feature F-16Vs, Perry-class frigates". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  11. ^ Choo, Roy. "Delays mount to Taiwan F-16V upgrade". www.flightglobal.com. Flight Global. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  12. ^ Yeo, Mike (2019-10-18). "Taiwan says F-16 upgrade back on track, as it seeks recon pods that can watch China's coastline". www.defensenews.com. Defense News. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  13. ^ Dominguez, Gabriel. "RoCAF's F-16 upgrade programme is 'back on track', says Taiwanese defence minister". www.janes.com. Janes. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  14. ^ Wang, Flor; You, Matt. "18 F-16A/B jet fighter upgrades completed". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  15. ^ "AIDC Builds the 4th and 5th Engine Case Manufacturing Centers". aidc.com.tw. AIDC. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  16. ^ "AIDC and ITP Aero enter into a 10 year Engine Parts Agreement". aidc.com.tw. AIDC. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  17. ^ Shih-ching, Kao. "Boeing cuts orders to Taiwanese suppliers". www.taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  18. ^ Strong, Matthew. "Taiwan lawmaker voices concern over weapons developer traveling overseas". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  19. ^ Chen, Ted. "New AIDC factory expected to bring in NT$1bn annually". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  20. ^ "TRADE REGISTERS". armstrade.sipri.org. SIPRI. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  21. ^ "Taiwan keen to boost domestic defence industry amid rising tension with Beijing". scmp.com. South China Morning Post. Associated Press. 2018-05-14. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  22. ^ Waldron, Greg. "USAF looks to help Taiwan with F-5 spares". flightglobal.com. Flight Global. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  23. ^ Shih-ching, Kao. "taipeitimes.com". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  24. ^ "Sikorsky S/H-92/Cockpit". aidc.com.tw. AIDC. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  25. ^ "Bombardier CL-350/Empennage". aidc.com.tw. AIDC. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  26. ^ Derber, Alex. "Taiwan's AIDC To Supply A320 Panels". mro-network.com. Informa. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  27. ^ Ko, Shu-Ling (2019-01-25). "Taiwanese supplier for Japan's new regional passenger jet plans to deliver essential parts in second quarter". The Japan Times Online. Japan Times. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  28. ^ Strong, Matthew. "Taiwan's AIDC optimistic about engine part supplies to Rolls-Royce". Taiwan News. www.taiwannews.com.tw. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
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