Aircraft

Manufacturer shaping content of F-5 replacement in anticipation of 60-aircraft order

Korea Aerospace Industries plans to submit a proposal to the South Korean government for a planned light combat version of the T-50 Golden Eagle trainer around mid-2007, with approval for a development programme possible by the end of this year.

³We expect a development contract for the F/A-50 from the DAPA [Defence Acquisition Programme Administration] in 2007,² says KAI president and chief executive Chung Hae Joo. ³We believe the air force will commit to about 60 aircraft for delivery from 2013 as a replacement for the [Northrop] F-5.² The new variant will also be offered to potential export customers, he says.

The F/A-50 is based on the T-50 trainer and A-50 close air support aircraft that KAI developed for the South Korean air force with Lockheed Martin.
Seoul included 22 A-50s in its initial 96-aircraft requirement for the Golden Eagle.

Three test examples of the F/A-50 are likely to be ready by the end of this year, says KAI, which will soon issue requests for proposals for key equipment including radar warning receivers, precision-guided bombs, countermeasures dispensers and datalinks.

The aircraft¹s configuration is now being finalised and will be presented to the government, says Koh Dae Woo, KAI¹s senior manager and chief of the F/A-50 development team.

Koh concedes that the programme¹s biggest hurdle is likely to be its cost, but says the type will be ³competitive² as it is based on an existing airframe. ³The DAPA has to make a decision on how much needs to be invested in the project. The government will take care of all development costs, while KAI will be the prime contractor.² KAI must also secure US government approval for the project, due to the T-50¹s use of some sensitive equipment derived from Lockheed¹s F-16, Koh says.

KAI hopes to fly its first F/A-50 prototype in 2009 or early 2010, and to complete development work in 2011. Deliveries are expected from 2013, with this work to sustain the company¹s T-50 line beyond late 2012, when the last of the air force¹s A-50s will be delivered. The F/A-50 will also form the baseline for electronic attack and reconnaissance variants of the Golden Eagle proposed for the air force.

Koh says the F/A-50 programme will not have an impact on South Korea¹s proposed KFX fighter programme. ³The focus here is on a light ground-attack aircraft, as opposed to the KFX which is likely to be a multi-role aircraft.² Details on the KFX programme remain sketchy, but Chung says KAI hopes to be involved in the project.