AIDC AT-3 Tz-Chiang

Advanced Weapons Trainer / Light Strike Aircraft

Taiwan | 1984

"The AIDC AT-3 the prop-powered, North American T-28 Trojan-derived T-CH-1 Chung Tsing trainer line."

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Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 06/04/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The AT-3 is in a special class of aircraft that specialize in both advanced pilot training as well as light combat and includes such mounts as the Czech Aero L-39, British BAe HAWK and the Spanish CASA C-101. These aircraft types are usually designed to be cost-effective, limited multi-role measures that provide some offensive "punch" with a high degree of agility. This allows the aircraft to be used in the training role, close-support role and light strike role as needed. The AT-3 was only the second product of Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) and followed the propeller-driven Chung Tsing - which was nothing more than a local-production version of the North American two-seat T-28 Trojan - and represented a highly-advanced indigenous Taiwanese design for its time.

Design of the AT-3 began sometime in 1975 and its development was subsequently approved by Taiwanese authorities in 1978 to which a pair of prototypes (XAT-3) were unveiled. The initial prototype went airborne for the first time on September 16th, 1980 and trials with the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) ensued. The evaluation period proved successful and a procurement contract for sixty aircraft was signed. The first production-quality AT-3 was flown on February 6th, 1984. The follow-on production aircraft were collectively designated as the AT-3A "Tz-Chiang" (translating to "Self Reliance") and deliveries totaled 60 airframes.

Outwardly, the AT-3 followed in line with traditional light aircraft design. The fuselage was central in the design and low-wing straight monoplanes were affixed at amidships. The engines were housed in outboard streamlined nacelles against either side of the fuselage (as opposed to being buried directly within the fuselage). The fuselage featured a pointed nosecone housing a radar system ahead of the two-seat cockpit and the empennage was rather conventional with a single vertical tail fin and a pair of applicable horizontal planes. The end-result was an aggressive and agile design consistent with the RPCAF requirement.

The AT-3 featured tandem seating for its crew of two personnel, each seated in "Zero-Zero" ejection seats. The instructor was set in the rear cockpit with the student in the front. The fuselage measured in at 12.9 meters long with a wingspan of 10.46 meters and a ground height of 4.36 meters. The aircraft weighed 8,500lbs when empty and 17,505lbs when fully loaded. The AT-3 was/is powered by a pair of Garret (Honeywell) AiResearch TFE731-2 series turbofan non-afterburning engines capable of 3,500lbs of thrust each. This supplies the mount with a maximum speed of 562 miles per hour, range of 1,417 miles and a service ceiling nearing 48,000 feet.

As an advanced trainer and combat-capable airframe, the AT-3 can be armed with a variety of light-class external stores across its five (four underwing, one centerline underfuselage) hardpoints. Principally, the aircraft is armed with a pair of 12.7mm heavy machine guns in a ventral gun pack though this can be supplemented by the addition of conventional drop bombs, unguided air-to-surface high-explosive rockets (in rocket launching pods) and air-to-air missiles in the form of the Sky Sword I or AIM-9P4 Sidewinder series of short-range missiles (AAMs can be fitted to the squared-off wingtips). For the anti-ship role, the AT-3 may sport the HF-2 Mk 2 series anti-ship missile. The AT-3 can also deploy a towed aerial target for training purposes. An internal bomb bay is also fitted under the fuselage but this is most often times reserved for internal fuel for increased operational ranges.

Production of the AT-3 spanned from 1984 to 1990 and manufacture was handled by Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) of Taiwan with assistance from the American defense firm of Northrop. Beyond its definitive AT-3A form, the AT-3B was added to become an improved and modernized two-seat ground attack version incorporating Heads-Up Display (HUD), APG-66T radar and semi-recessed ventral gun pack among other additions to help extend the service life of existing AT-3A models (programs usually known as MLUs - or "Mid-Life Upgrades"). Some 45 AT-3As were expected to be brought up to the new service upgrade form between 2001 and 2006. Beyond these two distinct forms, the AT-3 was only seen as the initial two XAT-3 prototypes and a pair of XA-3 "Lui Meng" ground attack/maritime strike prototypes.

The AT-3 is primarily known to the world for its use as the mount of choice of the Taiwanese "Thunder Tigers" aerial acrobatics team.

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the AIDC AT-3A Tz-Chiang Advanced Weapons Trainer / Light Strike Aircraft.

2 x Garrett AiResearch TFE731-2 turbofan engines developing 3,500 lb of thrust each.
Propulsion

562 mph
904 kph | 488 kts
Max Speed

48,064 ft
14,650 m | 9 miles
Service Ceiling

1,417 miles
2,280 km | 1,231 nm
Operational Range

10,100 ft/min
3,078 m/min
Rate-of-Climb

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the AIDC AT-3A Tz-Chiang Advanced Weapons Trainer / Light Strike Aircraft.

2
(MANNED)
Crew

42.3 ft
12.90 m
O/A Length

34.3 ft
(10.46 m)
O/A Width

14.3 ft
(4.36 m)
O/A Height

8,499 lb
(3,855 kg)
Empty Weight

17,505 lb
(7,940 kg)
MTOW

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the AIDC AT-3 Tz-Chiang Advanced Weapons Trainer / Light Strike Aircraft .

STANDARD:
2 x 12.7mm heavy machine guns in vental gun pack.
2 x AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles on wingtip mounts.

Up to 5,998lb of external stores across four underwing and one fuselage centerline hardpoints .

500lb drop bombs
1,000lb drop bombs
2,000lb drop bombs
2.75-inch rocket pods
5-inch rocket pods
Additional Gunpods
AIM-9P4 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles.
Sky Sword I short-range air-to-air missiles
HF-2 Mk 2 anti-ship missiles

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the AIDC AT-3 Tz-Chiang family line.

XAT-3 - Prototype Model Designation; two examples produced.

AT-3A "Tzu Chung" - Two-Seat Advanced Trainer / Light Attack Platform; 60 examples produced.

AT-3B - Two-Seat Ground-Attack Platform; APG-66T radar system; Head-Up Display (HUD) integration; 45 AT-3A examples have been earmarked for upgrade to this standard.

XA-3 "Lui Meng" - Single-Seat Ground-Attack Aircraft Variant; two prototypes completed; never selected for serial production.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the AIDC AT-3 Tz-Chiang. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 60 Units
Contractor(s): Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) - Taiwan

[ Taiwan ]

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