Aircraft database
Fighter Jets of Taiwan
Every combat aircraft in Taiwanese service, from the F-16V to the home-built F-CK-1, with specifications and current status.
Updated October 2026
What fighter jets does Taiwan operate?
Taiwan’s Republic of China Air Force operates around 400 combat aircraft. Upgraded F-16V Vipers form the core of the fleet, alongside the locally built AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo and the Mirage 2000-5.
Frontline types
3
In active service
Combat aircraft
~400
Republic of China Air Force
Fifth-generation
0
No stealth type in service
Next generation
F-16 Block 70
66 on order
Fighter jets in service today
Aircraft
Manufacturer
First flight
Top speed
F-47
Manufacturer
First flight
2028
Top speed
Mach 2.0
KAI KF-21 Boramae
Manufacturer
First flight
2022
Top speed
Mach 1.81
J-35/FC-31
Manufacturer
First flight
2012
Top speed
Mach 1.8
J-20 Mighty Dragon
Manufacturer
First flight
2011
Top speed
Mach 2.0
Su-57 Felon
Manufacturer
First flight
2010
Top speed
Mach 2.0
Su-35 Flanker-E
Manufacturer
First flight
2008
Top speed
Mach 2.25
F-35 Lightning II
Manufacturer
First flight
2006
Top speed
Mach 1.6
JF-17 Thunder
Manufacturer
First flight
2003
Top speed
Mach 1.6
HAL Tejas
Manufacturer
First flight
2001
Top speed
Mach 1.8
J-10C
Manufacturer
First flight
1998
Top speed
Mach 1.8
F-22 Raptor
Manufacturer
First flight
1997
Top speed
Mach 2.25
F/A-18 Super Hornet
Manufacturer
First flight
1995
Top speed
Mach 1.6
Mitsubishi F-2
Manufacturer
First flight
1995
Top speed
Mach 2.0
Eurofighter Typhoon
Manufacturer
First flight
1994
Top speed
Mach 2.0
Su-34 Fullback
Manufacturer
First flight
1990
Top speed
Mach 1.8
Saab Gripen
Manufacturer
First flight
1988
Top speed
Mach 2.0
Dassault Rafale
Manufacturer
First flight
1986
Top speed
Mach 1.8
AV-8B Harrier II
Manufacturer
First flight
1978
Top speed
1,070 km/h
Mirage 2000
Manufacturer
First flight
1978
Top speed
Mach 2.2
MiG-29 Fulcrum
Manufacturer
First flight
1977
Top speed
Mach 2.25
Su-27 Flanker
Manufacturer
First flight
1977
Top speed
Mach 2.35
MiG-31 Foxhound
Manufacturer
First flight
1975
Top speed
Mach 2.83
Panavia Tornado
Manufacturer
First flight
1974
Top speed
Mach 2.2
F-16 Fighting Falcon
Manufacturer
First flight
1974
Top speed
Mach 2.05
F-15 Eagle
Manufacturer
First flight
1972
Top speed
Mach 2.5
A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog)
Manufacturer
First flight
1972
Top speed
Mach 0.56
F-14 Tomcat
Manufacturer
First flight
1970
Top speed
Mach 2.34
SEPECAT Jaguar
Manufacturer
First flight
1968
Top speed
Mach 1.6
Mirage F1
Manufacturer
First flight
1966
Top speed
Mach 2.2
F-5 Tiger II
Manufacturer
First flight
1959
Top speed
Mach 1.63
F-4 Phantom II
Manufacturer
First flight
1958
Top speed
Mach 2.23
MiG-21 Fishbed
Manufacturer
First flight
1955
Top speed
Mach 2.05
Bombers and support aircraft
Aircraft
Manufacturer
First flight
Top speed
B-21 Raider
Manufacturer
First flight
2023
Top speed
Mach 0.8
Yak-130
Manufacturer
First flight
1996
Top speed
Mach 0.93
B-2 Spirit
Manufacturer
First flight
1989
Top speed
Mach 0.95
Aermacchi S-211
Manufacturer
First flight
1981
Top speed
667 km/h
Tu-160 Blackjack
Manufacturer
First flight
1981
Top speed
Mach 2.05
Aermacchi MB-339
Manufacturer
First flight
1976
Top speed
898 km/h
BAE Hawk
Manufacturer
First flight
1974
Top speed
Mach 0.84
L-39 Albatros
Manufacturer
First flight
1968
Top speed
750 km/h
U-2 Dragon Lady
Manufacturer
First flight
1955
Top speed
Mach 0.67
B-52 Stratofortress
Manufacturer
First flight
1952
Top speed
Mach 0.86
Retired fighter jets
Aircraft
Manufacturer
First flight
Top speed
Tornado GR4
Manufacturer
First flight
1974
Top speed
Mach 1.3
F-111 Aardvark
Manufacturer
First flight
1964
Top speed
Mach 2.5
F-117 Nighthawk
Manufacturer
First flight
1981
Top speed
Mach 0.92
F-104 Starfighter
Manufacturer
First flight
1954
Top speed
Mach 2.01
Concorde
Manufacturer
First flight
1969
Top speed
Mach 2.04
SR-71 Blackbird
Manufacturer
First flight
1964
Top speed
Mach 3.3
Blackburn Buccaneer
Manufacturer
First flight
1958
Top speed
1,038 km/h
English Electric Lightning
Manufacturer
First flight
1954
Top speed
Mach 2.0
F-105 Thunderchief
Manufacturer
First flight
1955
Top speed
Mach 2.08
Avro Vulcan
Manufacturer
First flight
1952
Top speed
Mach 0.88
X-15
Manufacturer
First flight
1959
Top speed
Mach 6.72
Harrier Jump Jet
Manufacturer
First flight
1967
Top speed
1,175 km/h
Folland Gnat
Manufacturer
First flight
1955
Top speed
1,118 km/h
F-86 Sabre
Manufacturer
First flight
1947
Top speed
1,105 km/h
MiG-17 Fresco
Manufacturer
First flight
1950
Top speed
1,145 km/h
Fouga Magister
Manufacturer
First flight
1952
Top speed
715 km/h
L-29 Delfin
Manufacturer
First flight
1959
Top speed
655 km/h
T-33 Shooting Star
Manufacturer
First flight
1948
Top speed
966 km/h
de Havilland Vampire
Manufacturer
First flight
1943
Top speed
882 km/h
Hawker Hunter
Manufacturer
First flight
1951
Top speed
Mach 0.94
Gloster Meteor
Manufacturer
First flight
1943
Top speed
965 km/h
MiG-15 Fagot
Manufacturer
First flight
1947
Top speed
1,077 km/h
MiG-25 Foxbat
Manufacturer
First flight
1964
Top speed
Mach 2.83
Me 262 Schwalbe
Manufacturer
First flight
1941
Top speed
870 km/h
How Taiwanese air power is structured
One operating service
All fighters are flown by the Republic of China Air Force, focused on defending the island’s airspace.
Built partly at home
AIDC designed and built the F-CK-1 with US help after Taiwan was unable to buy foreign fighters in the 1980s.
What comes next
New-build F-16 Block 70s are on order, and the existing F-16 fleet has been upgraded to F-16V standard.
Can you fly a Taiwanese fighter jet?
Taiwanese military aircraft are not available for civilian flights. The nearest experience is a former military jet trainer such as the L-39 Albatros, available from California and across Europe.
Taiwan fighter jet questions
How many fighter jets does Taiwan have?
Taiwan has around 400 combat aircraft, flown by the Republic of China Air Force. The upgraded F-16V is now the core of Taiwan’s fleet.
What is the F-CK-1 Ching-kuo?
The F-CK-1 Ching-kuo is a twin-engine light fighter designed and built in Taiwan by AIDC, with foreign assistance.
What is Taiwan’s F-16V?
The F-16V is an upgraded F-16 with new radar and avionics, and it is now the core of Taiwan’s fighter fleet.
Is Taiwan buying new fighter jets?
Yes, Taiwan is buying new fighter jets, with 66 new F-16 Block 70s on order.
Does Taiwan build its own fighter jets?
Taiwan partly builds its own fighter jets. It designed the F-CK-1 Ching-kuo with foreign assistance, and AIDC builds it in Taiwan.