KAI T-50 Golden Eagle
The KAI T-50 Golden Eagle (Korean: 골든이글) is a family of South Korean supersonic advanced jet trainers and light combat aircraft, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) with Lockheed Martin. The T-50 is South Korea's first indigenous supersonic aircraft and one of the world's few supersonic trainers. Development began in the late 1990s, and its maiden flight occurred in 2002. The aircraft entered active service with the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) in 2005.
T-50 Golden Eagle | |
---|---|
A Republic of Korea Air Force FA-50 carrying a captive training missile on its wingtip | |
Role | T-50: Advanced jet trainer TA-50: Lead-in fighter trainer FA-50 block 10: Light combat aircraft FA-50 block 20: Light multirole fighter |
National origin | South Korea |
Manufacturer | Korea Aerospace Industries Lockheed Martin |
First flight | 20 August 2002 |
Introduction | 22 February 2005 |
Status | In service |
Primary users | Republic of Korea Air Force Iraqi Air Force Indonesian Air Force Philippine Air Force |
Produced | 2001–present |
Number built | 200 (all models) |
The T-50 has been further developed into aerobatic and combat variants, namely T-50B, TA-50, and FA-50. An F-50 single-seat multirole fighter variant was considered before being cancelled. The T-50B serves with the South Korean air force's aerobatics team.
The T-50 has been in service with a number of countries. Iraq ordered 24 training variants called the T-50IQ in 2013, and received them in 2016. The TA-50 light attack variant have also been ordered by Indonesia in 2011, with 16 planes entering service by 2014; an additional 6 planes were ordered in 2021. The Philippines ordered 12 units of the FA-50 light fighter variant in 2014, delivered over the next few years with the country considering to order another batch of 12 planes. Thailand ordered 12 units of the T-50 advanced trainer variant (T-50TH) starting in 2015. In 2022, Poland ordered 48 FA-50 aircraft, followed by Malaysia in 2023 that ordered 18 of the latest Block 20 variant.