AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-Kuo
AIDC · Taiwan · first flew 1989 · fighter
The F-CK-1 Ching-Kuo is Taiwan's Indigenous Defence Fighter, a compact twin-turbofan multirole fighter developed domestically when foreign fighter sales were restricted.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 14.21 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Prominent leading-edge root extensions
- Bifurcated cheek intakes
- Single swept fin
Note the large leading-edge root extensions blending into the wing, the bifurcated intakes set low on the fuselage cheeks, and the single swept vertical tail, giving it a look reminiscent of a scaled hybrid of the F-16 and F/A-18.
Specifications
- The AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-Kuo has a length of 14.21 m (47 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.46 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1275 km/h (792 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 (2 in trainer).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Aero Industry Development Corporation launched the programme in the 1980s with substantial US technical assistance, and the first prototype flew in 1989. The aircraft was named after the late President Chiang Ching-kuo. Around 130 were built, later upgraded to improved standards with enhanced avionics and weapons.
Variants
Single-seat A-model fighters and twin-seat B-model trainers were produced, and mid-life upgrades yielded the improved C and D configurations with modernised radar and mission systems.
Where you'll see it
It equips several squadrons of the Republic of China Air Force as a frontline interceptor and strike aircraft, and has no UK operators, though it is often studied in the West as a benchmark indigenous fighter effort.
Related aircraft
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