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KAI T-50 / FA-50 Golden Eagle


Advanced Jet Trainer / Light Attack Aircraft


South Korea | 2005



"The KAI T-50 Golden Eagle of South Korea is an advanced supersonic jet trainer that can double as a light attack strike fighter if needed."

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the KAI T-50 Golden Eagle Advanced Jet Trainer / Light Attack Aircraft.
1 x General Electric F404-102 afterburning turbofan engine developing 17,700 lb of thrust with reheat.
Propulsion
990 mph
1,593 kph | 860 kts
Max Speed
47,999 ft
14,630 m | 9 miles
Service Ceiling
1,150 miles
1,851 km | 999 nm
Operational Range
Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the KAI T-50 Golden Eagle Advanced Jet Trainer / Light Attack Aircraft.
2
(MANNED)
Crew
42.6 ft
12.98 m
O/A Length
30.1 ft
(9.17 m)
O/A Width
15.7 ft
(4.78 m)
O/A Height
14,200 lb
(6,441 kg)
Empty Weight
26,422 lb
(11,985 kg)
MTOW
Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the KAI T-50 / FA-50 Golden Eagle Advanced Jet Trainer / Light Attack Aircraft provided across 7 (including wingtips) hardpoints.
STANDARD:
1 x 20mm General Dynamics A-50 "Vulcan" Gatling-style three-barrel automatic internal cannon.
2 x AIM-9 "Sidewinder" air-to-air missiles (wingtip mounts).

OPTIONAL:
6 x AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles.
CBU-58 Cluster Bombs.
Mk-20 Cluster Bombs.
LAU-3 Rocket Pods.
LAU-68 Rocket Pods.
Mk 82 General Purpose Bombs.
Mk 83 General Purpose Bombs.
Mk 84 General Purpose Bombs.
Guided Drop Bombs.


X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Hardpoints Key:


Centerline
Wingroot(L)
Wingroot(R)
Wing
Wingtip
Internal
Not Used
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the KAI T-50 / FA-50 Golden Eagle family line.
T-50 - Advanced Jet Trainer Designation; sans internal gun and radar system.
T-50B - Designation reserved for the acrobatic mount of the Black Eagles team.
TA-50 - "Fighter Lead-In" Attack Designation; internal 20mm cannon; air-to-air missile capability; external drop bomb capability; APG-67 radar.
FA-50 - Light Attack Multi-Role Model; Day/Night Mission Capability; RWR, CMDS, FLIR an Tactical Data Link.
T-50A MDS - Reserved U.S. Military Designation for advanced trainer competition; not selected.
A-50 - Original designation of the FA-50.
T-50TH - Royal Thai Air Force export model.
FA-50GF - Polish Air Force export model.
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 06/14/2023 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The T-50 / A-50 "Golden Eagle" is an advanced supersonic trainer and light strike-capable aircraft platform produced jointly by the South Korean firm of Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) and the American firm of Lockheed Martin. The resulting design is a highly modified derivative of the Lockheed Martin (formerly General Dynamics) F-16 "Fighting Falcon", of which KAI license-builds as the "KF-16" (the wing shape and single rudder design are apparent). The Golden Eagle twin-seat trainer has been procured in limited numbers with the South Korean Air Force.

The T-50 family was developed to replace a slew of active, though aging, platforms for the South Korean Air Force. More importantly, the involvement by Lockheed Martin ensured that the American company would assist in developing a next-generation advanced trainer capable of instructing a new crop of fighter pilots - particularly those that may end up in the cockpits of the Lockheed F-22 Raptor, Lockheed F-35 Lightning II, French Dassault Rafale and the European consortium Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. Much like the F-16 Fighting Falcon before it, the T-50 features a large glass canopy (the pilots seated in tandem), a single large-area vertical tail fin and a single turbofan powerplant in the General Electric F404 series. The system's developmental funding was split between the two participating firms with the government of South Korea taking on all remaining costs. The prototype recorded its first flight on August 20th, 2002. Prior to, the entire F-50 program suffered through financial setbacks before coming back on track. The T-50 was formally introduced into service on February 22nd, 2002. It has since been adopted by the Indonesian Air Force as well beginning in 2013 (16 aircraft - 12 T-50s and 4 x TA-50s). Production of T-50 aircraft began in 2001 and is ongoing as of this writing (2013). South Korea manages a stable of 102 aircraft made up of 50 x T-50s, 10 x T-50Bs, 22 x TA-50s and 20 x FA-50 (the latter on order as of 2013).

Initial evaluations during development saw the aircraft exceed Mach 1.0 though the design was initially estimated to achieve speeds of up to Mach 1.5. The engine provides full afterburning capabilities which supply short bursts of speed to the aircraft - maximum speed being 1,100 miles per hour at 10,000 feet. Operational range is 1,150 miles with a service ceiling of 48,000 feet. Triple-redundant, digital fly-by-wire technology is utilized for precision handling with dual controls available through both cockpits (as the T-50 can be utilized as an attack airframe or advanced trainer). The primary pilot/student resides in the front cockpit with the co-pilot/instructor in the rear. Avionics includes AN/APG-67 pulse Doppler radar (in the T-50) and EL/M-2032 advanced pulse Doppler Fire Control Radar (for the TA-50 and FA-50 marks).

The "Golden Eagle" is marketed as an advanced trainer under the designation of T-50, as a "fighter lead-in" platform under the TA-50 designation and as a light strike-capable variant under the FA-50 designation. These aircraft differ from one another mostly in the types of internal systems installed to achieve the desired mission role. The trainer does not mount the internal cannon nor advanced radar while the FA-50 is designed for day-and-night operations. The TA-50 is an in-between design combining the applications of both aircraft. All variants feature seating for two. The T-50B is a highly-specialized, high performance aerobatic demonstrator developed exclusively for the eight-aircraft-strong South Korean "Black Eagles" 53rd Air Demonstration Group.

In the armed strike role, the Golden Eagle can be outfitted with various conventional munitions to suit mission requirements. A standard internal 20mm General Dynamics A-50 gatling gun (a three-barreled version of the M61 Vulcan) is provided for close-in work as are rail-launchers along each wingtip for the AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile. Additionally, the aircraft can field a variety of underwing ordnance as well as external fuel tanks. Ordnance options include air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles (including the AGM-65 Maverick), unguided rocket pods, general purpose drop bombs, cluster bombs and precision-guided drop bombs.

South Korea failed to interest both Singapore and Israel in their T-50 mount. Possible sales are noted to the Botswana, Chile and the Philippines.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

May 2013 - It was announced that South Korea will procure an additional 40 TA-50 strike aircraft. The added production will allow an extended lease on life for the T-50 series as a whole, ensuring production lines remain open until 2016. The T-50 is in play for the USAF T-X program, the branch's search to find its new advanced trainer.

January 2014 - The Iraqi Air Force has elected to procure the KAI T-50 as light attack fighters in a 24-strong order. Deliveries are expected to begin in April of 2016 and end by 2017. The Iraqi model in question will follow the FA-50 design and its multi-role qualities while flying under the local "T-50IQ" designation for the IAF.

November 2015 - First deliveries to the Philippines were in November of 2015, these brought to the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron.

February 2016 - Lockheed Martin will propose a modernized T-50A for the United States Air Force's K-X advanced trainer competition. Two T-50A aircraft will be submitted for consideration.

Thailand has ordered four T-50TH advanced trainers for delivery in 2018.

December 2015 - The T-X prototype for the USAF competition was unveiled on December 17th, 2015. An aerial refueling capability has been added (which has resulted in a dorsal "hump") as has a large-area display in the cockpit (replacing the original five-screen arrangement). Initial testing is set to begin in 2016 with flight testing to start sometime in 2017.

July 2017 - The government of Thailand has announced a follow-up order for eight additional KAI T-50 aircraft.

April 2018 - Thailand has received its first of four T-50TH model advanced jet trainers for its Royal Thai Air Force.

July 2019 - The KAI FA-50 and Leonardo M-346FA are in the running to succeed the Argentine Air Force's aging fleet of A-4AR "Fightinghawk" fighters. Eight to ten aircraft are sought in the deal.

September 2019 - The Argentine government has currently (indefinitely) shelved the prospect of a T-50 purchase.

November 2019 - KAI is scheduled to deliver up to eight T-50 Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft to Thailand in 2020.

June 2020 - South Korea has committed to an order for twenty additional TA-50 fighter-trainers.

August 2020 - South Korea is proposing its T-50 Advanced Jet Trainer for a standing Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) requirement. Up to four defense players are in the running as the service intends to replace an aging fleet of BAe Hawk aircraft (Hawk Mk.127) in same role.

October 2020 - Britain's ongoing arms embargo against Argentina has ended any hope for the FA-50 coming to the Argentine Air Force.

February 2021 - South Korean FA-50 light attackers will soon be cleared to carry the Lockheed Martin "Sniper" Advanced Targeting Pod.

July 2021 - Indonesia has committed to the purchase of an additional six T-50i Advanced Jet Trainers from KAI.

August 2021 - KAI has received a second T-50 order from the nation of Thailand. This add-on will cover a pair of T-50TH fighter-trainers with deliveries to be had before the end of 2023.

November 2021 - KAI has netted a $360 million USD maintenance package with the nation of Iraq to support its T-50IQ fleet.

November 2021 - KAI will be championing its FA-50 to potential export partner Slovakia who seeks a new, all-modern Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT).

July 2022 - Poland has committed to the purchase of 48 FA-50 light strike aircraft from KAI.

September 2022 - Poland has officially signed its deal for 48 FA-50PL variant aircraft from KAI as it continues its Western-centric modernization of its air force.

February 2023 - The FA-50 was announced as the winner of Malaysia's standing Advanced Jet Trainer / Light Combat Aircraft requirement.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the KAI T-50 / FA-50 Golden Eagle. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 218 Units

Contractor(s): Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) - South Korea / Lockheed Martin - USA
National flag of Indonesia National flag of Iraq National flag of Malaysia National flag of the Philippines National flag of Poland National flag of South Korea National flag of Thailand

[ Indonesia; Iraq; Malaysia (announced); Philippines; Poland; South Korea; Thailand ]
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Image of the KAI T-50 / FA-50 Golden Eagle
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Image of the KAI T-50 / FA-50 Golden Eagle
Image released to the public by way of the US DoD DVIDS image database.
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Image of the KAI T-50 / FA-50 Golden Eagle
Image released to the public by way of the US DoD DVIDS image database.
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Image of the KAI T-50 / FA-50 Golden Eagle
Image released to the public by way of the US DoD DVIDS image database.
5 / 5
Image of the KAI T-50 / FA-50 Golden Eagle
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Going Further...
The KAI T-50 / FA-50 Golden Eagle Advanced Jet Trainer / Light Attack Aircraft appears in the following collections:
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