Poland Considers T-50 Trainer Frontrunner

By Jung Sung-ki

Staff Reporter

Polish air force pilots have successfully test-flown South Korea's T-50 supersonic trainer jets as the European nation considers the T-50 as a ``frontrunner'' for its program to acquire lead-in fighter trainers, the Polish ambassador to Seoul said Sunday.

The remarks by Ambassador Marek Calka came after a Polish military delegation ended a five-day visit to South Korea from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1 for talks over defense ties between Seoul and Warsaw.

``According to the Polish military delegation, the Korean T-50 meets all technical criteria to become a Polish training jet,'' Calka told The Korea Times. ``The Polish government will soon invite tenders for equipping the Polish Air Force with a training jet. Polish military experts perceive the potential Korean offer as a frontrunner.''

Poland's possible purchase of the T-50 Golden Eagle jet was high on the agenda during talks between the Polish delegates and Korean military leaders, including Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee and Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Kye-hoon, according to an embassy spokesman.

Polish Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Andrzej Blasik led the six-member delegation that also had two air force test pilots, the spokesman said.