Defense Minister Wellington Koo: New Primary Trainer Aircraft Project to be Completed by May 2026

(Central News Agency, reporter Yu Kaixiang, Taipei, 8th) Defense Minister Wellington Koo stated today that although the T-34 primary trainer has not yet reached the end of its service life, the ministry plans to complete the project for a new primary trainer aircraft by May 31, 2026. The Air Force will act professionally to determine the most appropriate procurement method. Once the project is completed and the budget is secured in fiscal year 2028, procurement procedures will commence.

On the 2nd of this month, a T-34 primary trainer (tail number 3414) from Gangshan Air Base in Kaohsiung, piloted by Lieutenant Colonels Guo Junnan and Lu Jiyou, crashed at the north end of the runway 21 minutes after takeoff during a simulated engine failure training exercise, resulting in the deaths of both pilots. The current primary trainers have been in service for many years and lack ejection seats, prompting public discussion on the necessity of procuring new aircraft.

The Foreign and National Defense Committee of the Legislative Yuan invited Minister Koo to report on the "Plan for the Retirement Schedule of Aging Major Military Equipment and the Supporting Arrangements for Combat Capability Transition" and to answer questions.

Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Minister Koo reiterated that while the T-34 is not yet at the end of its service life, the plan is to complete the new trainer project by May 31, 2026. The Air Force will use its professional judgment to choose the best procurement method, and procurement will begin once the budget is approved in 2028.

The Air Force introduced 49 U.S.-made T-34C primary trainers in 1985 (9 have been lost), serving as the "introductory mentors" for Air Force students beginning flight training. However, the T-34C has been in service for decades, lacks ejection seats, and faces issues with obsolescent parts. Military and industry sources have assessed that, following the F-16V upgrade project and the Brave Eagle advanced trainer development project, approximately 200 local Taiwanese companies have the capability to participate in developing and manufacturing a new primary trainer, with a potential localization rate of over 70%.

Han Chiang (AIDC) Chairman Tsao Chin-ping stated in an exclusive interview with CNA in January that the company has invested NT$170 million over several years and has successfully developed key components for a primary trainer. AIDC will lobby the Air Force for a domestically-built trainer, aiming to leverage local production to boost the industrial economy, retain and cultivate local talent, and enhance the competitiveness of Taiwan's aerospace industry. (Editor: Chang Chun-mao) 1150608