SINGAPORE Technologies Aerospace (STAe) is expected to win a contract to modify eight Taiwanese Northrop F-5Es to RF-5E TigerEye reconnaissance aircraft, after more than a year's delay to the order.
Taiwanese defence minister Chiang Chung-ling has re-affirmed that STAe is the preferred choice over local companies. He argues that STAe is a Northrop Grumman-approved RF-5E conversion centre and has already modified six aircraft for the Singapore air force.
STAe was originally selected for the upgrade as part of a wider counter-trade deal, involving the sale of ten surplus Taiwan air force F-5E/Fs to Singapore (Flight International, 23-29 August, 1995).
The deal foundered in 1995 because of political opposition to contracting the work overseas. The programme was then opened locally to the military-run Taiwanese Aero Industry Development Centre (AIDC) and Air Asia.
According to Chiang, a defence-ministry committee appointed to review the programme has found that AIDC does not have the necessary technical capability. Taiwan-based maintenance company Air Asia has since withdrawn. While the contract has still to be finalised with STAe, Chiang's comments come as a further blow to AIDC's attempts to diversify and secure new work
AIDC is facing a shortfall of work, with production of the Indigenous Defence Fighter (IDF) beginning to wind down. Around one-third of the centre's 5,000-strong workforce is expected to be made redundant when AIDC switches to being a state-run commercial business in July.
Taiwan had planned to manufacture 250 twin-engined IDFs. The order was than cut to 130 in 1993, after Taiwan won US Government approval to buy 150 Lockheed Martin F-16A/Bs. It later ordered 60 Dassault Mirage 2000-5s.
In the meantime, Chiang has announced that the air force is due to receive the first of its Mirage 2000 fighters in May. The first of 150 Block 20 F-16s is expected to follow shortly, but the aircraft will remain in the USA for training purposes until 1997.
Source: Flight International
