Fighter planes unveiled

President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu presided over the unveiling ceremony at the aerospace corporation’s plant in Taichung.

The new IDF is fitted with additional fuel tanks to increase its flight time and its avionics has been improved with a new flight control computer system.

The structure of the plane has also been changed to hold a maximum four Tianchien (Skysword) II air-to-air missiles from the original number of two.

Designed to hold air-to-ground missiles, the new IDF serves as a threat to mainland China’s coastal areas and can play a role in deterring the mainland’s military.

The “Ching-kuo Imposing Eagle” is being hailed as a step forward in the nation’s development of defense technology as President Chen calls for more self-reliance on acquiring high-tech weapons as opposed to purchasing them from foreign countries.

AIDC originally built 130 IDF jet fighters for the Air Force in 1994.

But after the Air Force complained that the fighters would not meet the needs of future warfare, the Ministry of National Defense budgeted NT$7 billion for the aircraft to be upgraded.

At the unveiling ceremony, President Chen called on legislators from the Kuomintang and People’s First Party not to stall the arms procurement proposal which allows for the purchase of 12 anti-submarine aircraft, eight diesel-fueled submarines, and six Patriot PAC-3 anti-missile batteries from the United States.

The change of the IDF’s name from the original “Ching-kuo” to “Ching-kuo Imposing Eagle” has raised questions among local media amidst recent moves by the government to change the names of state-run enterprises.

The “Ching-kuo” fighter was named in honor of the late president Chiang Ching-kuo, the son of Chiang Kai-shek.

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