Aircraft & UAVs

AIDC AT-3/T-5 Brave Eagle

Also known as
  • AT-3
  • AIDC AT-3
  • AT-3 Tzu Chung
  • T-5
  • AIDC T-5
  • T-5 Brave Eagle
  • T-5A
  • T-BE5A
  • AJT
  • Yung Ying
  • Yung-ying
  • Yung Yin
  • Tzu Chiang
  • Tz-Chiang
  • XAT-5
  • Blue Magpie
  • XA-3
  • XA-3 Lei Ming
  • XA-3 Lui Meng

The AIDC AT-3/T-5 family covers Taiwan's indigenous jet trainer line, starting with the AT-3 Tzu Chung, which first flew in 1980 and entered ROCAF service in 1985, and continuing through the XA-3 attack derivative and T-5 Brave Eagle advanced trainer. AIDC, ROCAF, and Janes sources describe the T-5/T-5A as a 66-aircraft replacement program for older AT-3 and F-5 training aircraft, with production aircraft delivered from 2021.

AIDC AT-3/T-5 Brave Eagle, Advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft family, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: File:AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle (cropped).jpg

Role in Conflicts

2015 Various Conflicts
Side
Unconfirmed conflict context

No named conflict use is identified in the cited AT-3/T-5 service sources.

AT-3 and T-5 Lineage

AIDC's indigenous trainer line moved from the AT-3 Tzu Chung through the XA-3 attack demonstrator to the T-5 Brave Eagle, with the later aircraft taking over ROCAF trainer duties and Thunder Tigers aerobatic work.

VariantRolePowerplantService or development note
AT-3 Tzu ChungAdvanced jet trainer and secondary ground-attack aircraftTwo Garrett TFE731-2-2 turbofan enginesFirst flew in 1980 and entered production in 1982.
XA-3 AttackerSingle-seat attack derivativeAT-3-derived airframeROCAF ordered the AT-3 attack modification in 1981; AIDC says testing validated navigation, radar, and air-to-surface delivery systems.
T-5 Brave EagleNext-generation advanced jet trainer for ROCAF pilot trainingTwo Honeywell/ITEC F124-200TW turbofan enginesDelivered to the ROCAF from 2021 to replace AT-3 and F-5 training aircraft.

Source-backed comparison based on AIDC and ROCAF trainer pages.

Profile / Specs

Specifications

Crew
2
AT-3 powerplant
Two Garrett TFE731-2-2 turbofan engines
AT-3 max speed
500 kn/hr
AT-3 max range
1,230 nm
AT-3 service ceiling
45,000 ft
T-5 powerplant
Two Honeywell/ITEC F124-200TW turbofan engines
T-5 max takeoff weight
24,250 lbs
T-5 max range
1,058 nm
T-5 max speed
Mach 0.97
T-5 service ceiling
40,000 ft
Variants

This family page uses aliases and the lineage table for the baseline AT-3 and T-5 aircraft. The variant rows below capture adjacent attack, production, and planned designations that need separate caveats.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
XA-3 AttackerSingle-seat attack derivative

AIDC describes the XA-3 as an AT-3 modification ordered by the ROCAF in 1981 for dedicated attack missions with navigation and attack avionics, air-to-surface delivery, radar capability, and successful HF-2 missile launch testing.

Sources: XA-3 Attacker - AIDC

T-5A / T-BE5A Brave EagleProduction T-5 designation

Janes identifies the production aircraft as T-5A, also known as T-BE5A, and reported that 27 of 66 had been delivered to the ROCAF by December 2023.

Sources: AIDC completes 27 T-5A deliveries to RoCAF

AT-5Reported planned light-fighter derivative

Janes reported the AT-5 as an intended light-fighter variant for replacing ROCAF Northrop F-5E/F aircraft; this row treats it as a reported plan rather than a delivered trainer fleet designation.

Sources: Taiwan flies indigenous T-5 Brave Eagle aircraft

Carried Stores

The AT-3/T-5 is documented with bombs, gun pods, rocket pods, and air-to-air missiles in its external store listings.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
1,000-pound drop bomb, Free-fall bomb, Munitions1,000-pound drop bomb1,000-pound bomb

MilitaryFactory lists 1,000-pound drop bombs among the AT-3's external stores.

Sources: MilitaryFactory AT-3 Tz-Chiang aircraft page

Mk 82 500-pound unguided bomb, Air-delivered 500-pound low-drag general-purpose bomb, MunitionsMk 82 500-pound unguided bomb500-pound bomb

NET-MAQUETTES and TaiwanAirPower both list Mk 82 500 lb bombs among the AT-3's seen stores.

Sources: AIDC AT-3 - Photos & Videos - NET-MAQUETTES, AIDC AT-3 weapons list | TaiwanAirPower

Mk 84 Mod 4 2,000-pound unguided bomb, 2,000-pound unguided general-purpose bomb, MunitionsMk 84 Mod 4 2,000-pound unguided bomb2,000-pound bomb

NET-MAQUETTES lists Mk 84 2,000 lb bombs among the AT-3's seen stores.

Sources: AIDC AT-3 - Photos & Videos - NET-MAQUETTES

AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, Short-range air-to-air missile family, MunitionsAIM-9 Sidewinder missileShort-range air-to-air missile

NET-MAQUETTES lists AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles among the AT-3's stores, and MilitaryFactory also names AIM-9P4 Sidewinder missiles in the AT-3 loadout.

Sources: AIDC AT-3 - Photos & Videos - NET-MAQUETTES, AAI MQ-19 Aerosonde vs AIDC AT-3 Tz-Chiang Comparison

Carried Cluster Bombs

TaiwanAirPower lists Mk 20 cluster bombs among the AT-3's carried stores.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
Mk 20 Rockeye II cluster bomb, Air-dropped anti-armor cluster bomb, MunitionsMk 20 Rockeye II cluster bombCluster bomb

TaiwanAirPower lists Mk 20 cluster bombs among the AT-3's carried stores.

Sources: AIDC AT-3 weapons list | TaiwanAirPower

Carried Gun Pods

TaiwanAirPower lists 20 mm gun pods among the AT-3's carried stores.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
20 mm gun pod, Aircraft gun pod, Munitions20 mm gun podAircraft gun pod

TaiwanAirPower lists 20 mm gun pods among the AT-3's carried stores.

Sources: AIDC AT-3 weapons list | TaiwanAirPower

Carried Rocket Pods

TaiwanAirPower lists 2.75-inch and 5-inch rocket pods among the AT-3's carried stores.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
2.75-inch rocket pod, Aircraft rocket pod, Munitions2.75-inch rocket podAircraft rocket pod

TaiwanAirPower lists 2.75-inch rocket pods among the AT-3's carried stores, and MilitaryFactory's AT-3 comparison page shows the same aircraft with 2.75-inch rocket pods in its external-store set.

Sources: AIDC AT-3 weapons list | TaiwanAirPower, MilitaryFactory AT-3 external-store comparison

5-inch rocket pod, Aircraft rocket pod, Munitions5-inch rocket podAircraft rocket pod

TaiwanAirPower lists 5-inch rocket pods among the AT-3's carried stores, and MilitaryFactory's AT-3 comparison page shows the same aircraft with 5-inch rocket pods in its external-store set.

Sources: AIDC AT-3 weapons list | TaiwanAirPower, MilitaryFactory AT-3 external-store comparison

Carried Anti-Ship Missiles

MilitaryFactory lists HF-2 Mk 2 anti-ship missiles among the AT-3's external stores.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
Hsiung Feng II (HF-2) anti-ship missile, Subsonic anti-ship cruise missile, MunitionsHsiung Feng II (HF-2) anti-ship missileAir-launched anti-ship missile

MilitaryFactory lists HF-2 Mk 2 anti-ship missiles among the AT-3's external stores.

Sources: MilitaryFactory AT-3 external-store comparison

Timeline

AIDC AT-3/T-5 Brave Eagle Key Events

  1. AT-3 first flight

    AIDC dates the AT-3's first flight to 16 September 1980.

    Sources: AT-3 Advanced Jet Trainer - AIDC

  2. XA-3 attack derivative ordered

    AIDC says it received a ROCAF contract in 1981 to modify the AT-3 into a single-seat dedicated attack aircraft.

    Sources: XA-3 Attacker - AIDC

  3. AT-3 production begins

    AIDC says AT-3 production started in March 1982.

    Sources: AT-3 Advanced Jet Trainer - AIDC

  4. AT-3 delivered to ROCAF

    ROCAF says the AT-3 has served since its first delivery in 1985.

    Sources: AT-3 - AIR FORCE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, MND

  5. AJT/T-5 program formally initiated

    AIDC says the Brave Eagle AJT program was officially initiated in February 2017.

    Sources: AJT (T-5 Brave Eagle Advanced jet trainer) - AIDC

  6. T-5 prototype first flight

    AIDC says the first Brave Eagle AJT prototype completed its maiden flight in June 2020; Janes dates the flight to 10 June.

    Sources: AJT (T-5 Brave Eagle Advanced jet trainer) - AIDC, Taiwan flies indigenous T-5 Brave Eagle aircraft

  7. First production T-5 delivered

    Janes reported that the ROCAF received the first mass-produced T-5 Brave Eagle, serial 11003, on 28 November 2021.

    Sources: Taiwan receives first-production T-5 advanced trainer

  8. Twenty-seven T-5As delivered

    Janes reported that AIDC had delivered 27 of 66 T-5A Brave Eagle aircraft to the ROCAF by December 2023.

    Sources: AIDC completes 27 T-5A deliveries to RoCAF

Media

AIDC AT-3/T-5 Brave Eagle Videos

AIDC AT-3/T-5 Brave Eagle Images

AIDC AT-3/T-5 Brave Eagle, Advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft family, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: File:AIDC AT-3 - Thunder Tiger Aerobatics.jpg
AIDC AT-3/T-5 Brave Eagle, Advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft family, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2
Source: File:勇鷹教練機1126.jpg
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Sources

AT-3 Advanced Jet Trainer - AIDCPublisher: Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation | Note: Supports AT-3 design, production, role, and specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-01XA-3 Attacker - AIDCPublisher: Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation | Note: Supports XA-3 attack-derivative history, ROCAF contract context, navigation/attack system testing, and HF-2 launch testing. | Accessed: 2026-07-01AT-3 - AIR FORCE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, MNDPublisher: Republic of China Air Force | Note: Supports AT-3 service entry, aerobatic use, and technical specifications; it does not document use in a named conflict. | Accessed: 2026-07-01AJT (T-5 Brave Eagle Advanced jet trainer) - AIDCPublisher: Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation | Note: Supports AJT/T-5 development, first flight, replacement role, and trainer specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-01AJT - AIR FORCE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, MNDPublisher: Republic of China Air Force | Note: Supports T-5 delivery context, trainer role, replacement of older trainers, and technical specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Taiwan flies indigenous T-5 Brave Eagle aircraftPublisher: Janes | Note: Supports the T-5 first-flight date, 66-aircraft replacement plan, Blue Magpie early name, and reported planned AT-5 light-fighter derivative. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Taiwan receives first-production T-5 advanced trainerPublisher: Janes | Note: Supports the 28 November 2021 first-production T-5 delivery, serial 11003, 66-aircraft contract, and AT-3/F-5 replacement plan. | Accessed: 2026-07-01AIDC completes 27 T-5A deliveries to RoCAFPublisher: Janes | Note: Supports the T-5A/T-BE5A designation, 27 of 66 delivered by December 2023, and replacement of AT-3 and F-5E/F aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-07-01AIDC Company Profile - AIDCPublisher: Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation | Note: Supports corporate background and manufacturer context. | Accessed: 2026-06-26File:AIDC AT-3 - Thunder Tiger Aerobatics.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing for the AT-3 gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-26File:AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle (cropped).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing for the primary T-5 gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-26File:勇鷹教練機1126.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing for a second T-5 gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-26AIDC AT-3 - Photos & Videos - NET-MAQUETTESPublisher: NET-MAQUETTES | Note: Supports AT-3 carriage of bombs and missiles. | Accessed: 2026-06-28AAI MQ-19 Aerosonde vs AIDC AT-3 Tz-Chiang ComparisonPublisher: MilitaryFactory | Note: Supports AT-3 carriage of AIM-9P4 Sidewinder missiles. | Accessed: 2026-06-28MilitaryFactory AT-3 Tz-Chiang aircraft pagePublisher: MilitaryFactory | Note: Supports AT-3 external-store background and the listing of 1,000lb drop bombs among the aircraft's external stores. | Accessed: 2026-06-27MilitaryFactory AT-3 external-store comparisonPublisher: MilitaryFactory | Note: Supports the AT-3 comparison page listing 2.75-inch rocket pods and HF-2 Mk 2 anti-ship missiles among the aircraft's external stores. | Accessed: 2026-06-27AIDC AT-3 weapons list | TaiwanAirPowerPublisher: TaiwanAirPower | Note: Supports the AT-3 store list that includes 20 mm gun pods and 2.75-inch rocket pods among carried weapons. | Accessed: 2026-06-27