F-CK Fighter Program Moves Ahead with ‘4+ Generation’ Modernisation For the Republic of China Air Force

The Republic of China Air Force has moved ahead with plans to significantly modernise the capabilities of its F-CK Ching-kuo lightweight fighters under the Falcon Project, with one the fighters having recently been seen a carrying a Sky Sword II radar guided air-to-air missile for high-altitude testing. The Sky Sword II is expected to serve as the primary air-to-air armament of the F-CK, and has broadly analogous capabilities to the U.S. AIM-120C-5, although it is considerably faster and is reportedly much more costly due to its far smaller production scale. The fulls scope of the Falcon Project still remains uncertain, with some unconfirmed reports indicating that the aircraft will integrate conformal fuel tanks, addressing the F-CK’s very short range which is currently among its leading shortcomings. 

In January the Taipei-based China Academy of Sciences was commissioned to develop an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for the F-CK, with the fighter’s current mechanically scanned array radars having long been considered obsolete. A prototype AESA radar for the aircraft was reported in January to have already begun testing, and is expected to integrate new Gallium Nitride technologies, making it significantly more modern than the AN/APG-83 radar integrated on F-16 fighters than the Air Force is procuring from the United States. The modernisation of the F-CK fleet closely follows the completion work to bring Republic of China Air Force’s F-16A/B fighters to the F-16V standard under the $4.5 billion ‘Peace Phoenix Rising’ program with U.S. assistance. Experience from this work expected to help support work to upgrade the lighter indigenous fighter fully domestically.  

In parallel to investments to modernise the F-CK fleet, of which two squadrons are currently in service, the Republic of China Air Force is scheduled receive 66 F-16 Block 70 fighters, although deliveries have fallen years behind schedule due to industrial issues in the United States. The production of 66 T-5 Brave Eagle fighters, a heavier and more modern derivative of the F-CK design, to form a further squadron, has also fallen far behind schedule. The Republic of China Ministry of National Defence is also reported to be considering initiating the development of a fifth generation fighter to succeed the F-CK in service, with the development of a number of related technologies having already been initiated. A number of unconfirmed reports have also indicated that talks are underway for the sale of French Rafale fighters to equip the Republic of China Air Force. Should all these programs proceed, it would necessitate a significant expansion of the number of fighter units in service.