TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's ambitious Brave Eagle advanced trainer jet program has fallen behind schedule, with only 43 of the expected 47 jets delivered by February's end, according to a report from the Ministry of National Defense (MND, 國防部) released on Wednesday (March 12). The delay stems from bottlenecks in seven critical outsourced components, including engines and environmental control systems, which the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC, 漢翔公司) failed to deliver on time.
In response to these challenges, local media reported that both AIDC and the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST, 中科院) have pivoted to domestic manufacturing solutions to overcome these supply chain challenges. Despite these hurdles, the MND's report offered reassurance that all required components had arrived as of March 12, with delivery of the remaining four jets expected by month's end.
The production delays come at a sensitive time following a Brave Eagle crash on Feb. 15. The Legislative Yuan's (立法院) Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee has summoned Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) to deliver a report on Thursday (March 13) regarding both the "Indigenous aircraft delivery schedule" and the "inspection status following the Brave Eagle mishap."
In the crash aftermath, the Air Force worked closely with AIDC to investigate potential mechanical failures. They've since completed safety inspections on 36 jets and resumed flights on March 5. The Air Force is implementing a phased approach, prioritizing instructor training before student pilots, to gradually restore normal operations while maintaining combat readiness.