1st-Phase Trainer Jet Production Ends
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
The first phase of T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic trainer jet production has been completed, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said Tuesday.
T-50 is South Korea's first semi-indigenous aircraft co-developed by Lockheed Martin of the United States. The development was 13 percent funded by the U.S. firm, 17 percent by state-run Korea Aerospace Industries and 70 percent by the Korean government.
More than 20 T-50s have been operational with the Korean Air Force since the first production of the aircraft, under $1.1 billion first-phase production, was delivered in December 2005, according to the release.
The first aircraft under second phase production will roll out in August, a DAPA official said. About 60 more T-50 and other variants, including an A-50 light attack aircraft version, are to be produced in coming years, he said.
About 10 T-50s will be operational with the Air Force's acrobatic flight team, Black Eagles, by 2012, he added.
The T-50 is now vying with Italy's Aermacchi M-346 for a United Arab Emirates bid to acquire more than 40 advanced trainers.
Singapore is also a potential T-50 customer, along with the United States and Greece, a KAI official said.
``The T-50 is the ideal solution for the training needs of air forces around the world,'' the official said, asking not to be named. ``We expect T-50 variants to secure about 30 percent of the share of the global trainer market, or 1,100 of 3,300 trainers' needs, within 25 years.''
The single-engine trainer features digital flight controls and a modern ground-based training system, which helps new pilots smoothly transition into advanced fighters such as the F-22 and F-35, as well as the F-16. Per-unit price is $25 million.
The 13-meter-long aircraft has a top speed of Mach 1.5.
The A-50's arms include AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface guided missiles and Mk 82/83/84 laser-guided bombs. The aircraft can carry electronic warfare pods and a radar-warning receiver.