The AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo, or Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF), is Taiwan's lightweight supersonic twin-engine multirole fighter for the Republic of China Air Force. ROCAF material places it in service from 1992 and identifies interception, long-range strike, and close-air-support tasks, while AIDC and defense reporting document the Hsiang Sheng upgrade path that added improved avionics, electronic warfare changes, and Wan Chien standoff-missile carriage.
The ROCAF page documents the IDF as a frontline fighter in service since 1992, but the sources here do not isolate a single named post-2015 conflict, so the catalog keeps it in the 2015 Various Conflicts holding bucket.
The Hsiang Sheng upgrade moved the IDF beyond the original F-CK-1A/B configuration while keeping the aircraft in Taiwanese service. AIDC identifies upgraded GD-53 radar, digital color avionics, a 32-bit digital flight-control computer, and conformal-fuel-tank work on the prototype aircraft; Defense News separately reported the completed fleet upgrade with a glass cockpit, improved electronic warfare capabilities, strengthened landing gear, and digital anti-skid changes.
The upgrade kept the domestic fighter force relevant after original IDF production ended.
ROCAF lists WJ missiles, Mk 82/84 bombs, and air-to-air missiles in the IDF armament set.
Defense News reported 71 aircraft upgraded in Phase 1 and 56 aircraft upgraded to F-CK-1C/D standard in Phase 2.
The F-CK-1 family is usually split between original single-seat/twin-seat A/B aircraft and the upgraded C/D Hsiang Sheng, also called Xiong Ying or Taiwan Eagle in AIDC material.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| F-CK-1A | Original single-seat IDF fighter | AIDC identifies the IDF as a twin-engine multipurpose combat aircraft and records the first IDF flight in May 1989. Sources: IDF Fighter | Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation |
| F-CK-1B | Original twin-seat IDF fighter | AIDC records the twin-seat IDF first flight in July 1990. Sources: IDF Fighter | Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation |
| F-CK-1C Hsiang Sheng | Upgraded single-seat variant | AIDC says the single-seat F-CK-1 C/D upgrade aircraft was assembled on July 19, 2006 and first flew on October 4, 2006 with upgraded GD-53 radar, digital color avionics, and a 32-bit digital flight-control computer. Sources: AIDC F-CK-1 C/D, Taiwan fighter jets get new electronic warfare capabilities in latest upgrade |
| F-CK-1D Hsiang Sheng / Xiong Ying | Upgraded twin-seat variant | AIDC says the twin-seat upgraded aircraft first flew on March 14, 2007 and was officially demonstrated on March 27, 2007, when President Chen Shui-bian named the IDF C/D Xiong Ying. Sources: AIDC F-CK-1 C/D |
The ROCAF weapons page lists the IDF as carrying WJ missiles, Mark 82 and Mark 84 bombs, and AIM-9P4 air-to-air missiles.
| Carried item | Item type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Air-launched standoff cruise missile | ROCAF lists WJ missiles in the IDF armament set, and CSIS identifies Wan Chien as an air-launched cruise missile carried by Taiwan's F-CK-1 Ching-kuo. Sources: IDF - Fighters - AIR FORCE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, MND, Wan Chien | Missile Threat |
 | 500-pound strike bomb | The ROCAF page says the IDF can carry Mark 82 bombs for strike missions. Sources: IDF - Fighters - AIR FORCE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, MND |
 | 2,000-pound strike bomb | The ROCAF page says the IDF can carry Mark 84 bombs for strike missions. Sources: IDF - Fighters - AIR FORCE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, MND |
 | Short-range air-to-air missile | The ROCAF page lists AIM-9P4 missiles among the IDF's armament options. Sources: IDF - Fighters - AIR FORCE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, MND |
 | Practice bomb | The ROCAF page lists BDU-33 bombs among the IDF's armament options. Sources: IDF - Fighters - AIR FORCE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, MND |
 | Illumination flare | The ROCAF page lists LUU-2D flares among the IDF's armament options. Sources: IDF - Fighters - AIR FORCE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, MND |
NCSIST says the first prototype rollout was held in December 1988 and the aircraft was named Ching-kuo.
Sources: Ching-kuo IDF High Performance Fighter | NCSIST
AIDC and NCSIST both record the first IDF flight in May 1989.
Sources: IDF Fighter | Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation, Ching-kuo IDF High Performance Fighter | NCSIST
AIDC records the twin-seat IDF first flight in July 1990.
Sources: IDF Fighter | Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation
The Republic of China Air Force says the IDF entered service in 1992.
Sources: IDF - Fighters - AIR FORCE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, MND
AIDC's 2018 annual report says production of the IDF ended in 1999.
Sources: Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation Annual Report 2018
NCSIST describes a 2001-2008 Ching-kuo performance-upgrade program to increase internal fuel, improve electronic warfare and self-defense capability, extend combat range, and broaden air-to-surface roles.
Sources: Ching-kuo IDF High Performance Fighter | NCSIST
AIDC says the upgraded single-seat F-CK-1 C/D aircraft was assembled in July 2006 and made its first flight on October 4, 2006.
Sources: AIDC F-CK-1 C/D
AIDC says the twin-seat upgraded aircraft first flew on March 14, 2007 and was publicly demonstrated later that month.
Sources: AIDC F-CK-1 C/D
AIDC says the F-CK-1 C/D Hsiang Sheng upgrade was completed and delivered to the ROCAF in October 2018.
Sources: Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation Annual Report 2018
