Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has secured a contract to extend the life of KT-1B basic trainers in service with Indonesia’s air force.
The contract is valued at $64 million and will see the fleet’s airframe life extended, says KAI.
The work involves reinforcing the fuselage and wings of the KT-1s after an analysis of Indonesia’s use of the aircraft. The aircraft will be disassembled and inspected to assess their structural age.
The aim is to more than double the lifespan of the aircraft, which were first exported to Indonesia in 2003. The KT-1B is the export version of the KT-1. Aviation analytics company Cirium indicates that Indonesia operates 16 examples, having lost two.
In addition to performing as Indonesia’s basic trainer, the KT-1 is also operated by the Jupiter display team.
Five air forces operate the KT-1: Indonesia, Peru, Senegal, South Korea, and Turkey.
