Aerospace Industrial Development Corp (AIDC, 漢翔航空) yesterday said it has finished upgrading the air force’s F-16A/B jets to F-16Vs and hopes the experience will help it secure F-16 aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business.
The retrofitting program has seen AIDC help upgrade 139 F-16A/Bs into more advanced F-16Vs since 2017, with the last jet completing its test flight early this month, the defense contractor said.
“AIDC will continue to utilize the capability of its F-16 Maintenance Center to win business concerning newly purchased F16Vs, as well as F-16 MRO and lifespan extension services,” the company said in a document released following its earnings conference.
Photo: Wang Yi-hung, Taipei Times
The Taichung-based firm said it also expects to complete delivery of 66 advanced jet trainers by the end of 2026, after the last four of 17 indigenous advanced jet trainers scheduled for this year flew from Taichung to the air force base in Taitung County on Tuesday last week.
With the increased number of deliveries of advanced jet trainers, AIDC is gearing up for related maintenance and proposing one-stop services, including military aircraft research and development, jet production and MRO services, the company said.
As the global aviation industry is on track for a full recovery, AIDC said it is optimistic about next year’s outlook.
Going forward, the company would expand its business in the fields of defense (such as performance upgrades and drones), commercial (concentrating on fuselage, door and engine-related business) and technology services (focusing on carbon reduction business and energy management system and building management system technologies), it said.
Since its establishment in 1969, AIDC has participated in several military projects such as producing indigenous defense fighter jets and advanced jet trainers; offering F-16 performance upgrades and maintenance services; and providing maintenance services for various aircraft such as UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and C-130 transport planes.
The firm reported consolidated revenue of NT$35.8 billion (US$1.14 billion) in the first 11 months of this year, an increase of 31.97 percent from a year earlier.
Net profit in the first three quarters totaled NT$1.96 billion, up 42.53 percent year-on-year and surpassing the total for the whole of last year, with earnings per share of NT$2.08, company data showed.
As the commercial aerospace industry is forecast to see a substantial recovery next year after labor and component shortages are alleviated, the commercial business will become AIDC’s main growth driver going forward, Capital Investment Management Corp (群益投顧) said in a note.
While the firm's sales and earnings from defense business will soon plateau, it will continue to benefit from the increase in the nation's defense spending as Taiwan aims to strengthen its military's combat capabilities, Capital Investment said.
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