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Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation
Company in Taiwan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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]
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History
Summarize
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Government ownership
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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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]
In July 2025 China placed AIDC on an export control list due to its work for the Taiwanese military.[19][20] Responding to the ban, AIDC said the ban would only affect its civilian product offerings and that it was seeking "appropriate alternative sources."[21]
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Facilities and equipment
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.[22]
AIDC operates one Astra SPX aircraft as a target tug.[23]
Headquarters
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.[24]
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Products
Aircraft
- AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo Indigenous Defence Fighter - began as XF-6 indigenous fighter project
- AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle (advanced jet trainer)
- AIDC AT-3 (advanced jet trainer)
- variant XA-3 Lei Ming (single seat attack aircraft prototype)
- AIDC T-CH-1 (Basic Trainer derived from North American T-28 Trojan)
- AIDC PL-1B (Primary Trainer and licensed version of Pazmany PL-1, a two-seat trainer from Pazmany Aircraft Corporation)
- AIDC XC-2 (Civil transport, prototype only)
- UH-1H (utility helicopter and licensed version from Bell Helicopter)
- OH-58D (Observation, attack and reconnaissance helicopter and licensed version from Bell Helicopter)
- F-5E/F Chung Cheng (license built and locally modified Northrop F-5)[25]
Components
- Doors for all Boeing 737 aircraft since 2003[26]
- Cockpit for Sikorsky S-92[27]
- Rear Fuselage, Engine Pylon and the Vertical and Horizontal Stabilizer for Challenger 300/350[28]
- Composite belly panels for the Airbus A320 and Airbus A321[29]
- Both designed and produces five composite components for the Mitsubishi MRJ[30]
- Honeywell/ITEC F124 produced in partnership with Honeywell.
- Cooperation on the Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 Advance 2 engine[31]
See also
References
External links
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