In 2020, the state-owned Aerospace Industrial Development Corp’s brand-new AT-5 Brave Eagle from Taiwan will fly for the first time.

On Wednesday, July 6, Taiwan’s air force introduced a new jet trainer that was built and manufactured locally, highlighting the aircraft’s enhanced combat capabilities as it will substitute outdated and accident-prone existing hardware.

Although the majority of Taiwan’s military equipment comes from the United States, President Tsai Ing-wen has prioritized the growth of a sophisticated domestic defense industry, particularly as China, which claims the island as its own, intensifies overall military development efforts and drills close to Taiwan.

In 2020, the state-owned Aerospace Industrial Development Corp’s new AT-5 Brave Eagle, which cost T $68.6 billion ($2.3 billion), made first ever test launch. Because this F-CK-1 Ching-kuo Indigenous Defence Fighter, or IDF, flew more than three decades ago, this is Taiwan’s first locally produced jet. The two fighters share a similar appearance and feature set.

At the Chihhang airforce base in Taitung, Taiwan’s east coast, three Brave Eagles blasted into the air to demonstrate their ability in front of media.

The Brave Eagle, according to flight training officer Chang Chong-hao, can fly and land off using a smaller length of runway and is appropriate for both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat training.

“So it helps give the students more space to deal with some unforeseen situations.”

Although it is still in the testing phase, the Brave Eagle trainer can be outfitted with weaponry. The aircraft is made to provide help in times of conflict.

Air force official Huang Chun-yuan said, “We’re not involved in the armaments part; those tests are up to the manufacturer ADIC. Our main mission at the moment is general conversion training and tandem flying.”