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T-50 Golden Eagle
Role	Advanced trainer, multirole fighterType of aircraft
Manufacturer	Korea Aerospace Industries
First flight	20 August 2002
Introduction	22 February 2005
Status	In production, in service
Primary users	Republic of Korea Air Force Indonesian Air Force
Number built	82

The T-50 Golden Eagle is a family of South Korean supersonic advanced trainers and multirole fighters, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries beginning in the late 1990s. The T-50 is South Korea's first indigenous supersonic aircraft and one of the world's few supersonic trainers. It took its maiden flight in 2002 and entered active service with the Republic of Korea Air Force in 2005.

The T-50 advanced trainer had been further developed into aerobatic and combat variants, namely T-50B, TA-50, and FA-50. Ten T-50B serve with the South Korean air force's aerobatics team. In 2011, the first squadron of TA-50, T-50's light attack variant, had become operational. The maiden flight of FA-50, T-50's multirole fighter variant with comparable capabilities to KF-16, had also taken place in 2011. First FA-50 production for 60 aircraft will commence in 2013 until 2016.

As of 2012, 16 TA-50 light attack variants of the family has been ordered by Indonesia. Additional export orders are being pursued in countries such as Iraq, Poland, Philippines and Spain. T-50 is also being marketed as a candidate for the T-X program of the United States as the United States Air Force's next-generation advanced trainer. The T-50 is the proposed base for the F-50 next-generation indigenous fighter.

Development

Origins

The T-50 program was originally intended to develop an indigenous trainer aircraft capable of supersonic flight, to train and prepare pilots for the KF-16 and F-15K, replacing trainers such as T-38 and A-37 that were then in service with the Republic of Korea Air Force. Prior South Korean aircraft programs include the propeller-driven KT-1 basic trainer produced by Daewoo Aerospace (now part of KAI), and license-manufactured KF-16. In general, the T-50 series of aircraft closely resembles the KF-16 in configuration.

The mother program, code-named KTX-2, began in 1992, but the Ministry of Finance and Economy suspended KTX-2 in 1995 due to financial constraints. The basic design of the aircraft was set by 1999. The development of the aircraft was funded 13% by Lockheed Martin, 17% by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), and 70% by the government of South Korea.

The aircraft was formally designated as T-50 Golden Eagle in February 2000. The T-50A designation was reserved by the U.S. military to prevent to it from being inadvertently assigned to another aircraft model. Final assembly of the first T-50 took place between 15 January and 14 September 2001. The first flight of the T-50 took place in August 2002, and initial operational assessment from 28 July to 14 August 2003. KAI and Lockheed Martin are currently pursuing a joint marketing program for the T-50 variant internationally. The South Korean air force placed a production contract for 25 T-50s in December 2003, with aircraft scheduled to be delivered between 2005 and 2009. Original T-50 are equipped with the AN/PG-67(v)4 radar from Lockheed Martin and it has been selected for the AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo of Taiwan.

Improved versions

The program has expanded beyond a trainer concept to include the TA-50 light attack aircraft, as well as the FA-50 multirole fighter comparable to KF-16. The TA-50 variant is a more heavily armed version of the T-50 trainer, intended for lead-in fighter training and light attack roles. Equipping the EL/M-2032 radar, The TA-50 is designed to operate as a full-fledged combat platform for precision-guided weapons, air-to-air missiles, and air-to-ground missiles. TA-50 can mount additional utility pods for reconnaissance, targeting assistance, and electronic warfare. Reconnaissance and electronic warfare variants are also being developed designated as RA-50 and EA-50.

The FA-50 is the most advanced version of the T-50. It equips a modified Israeli EL/M-2032 pulse-Doppler radar with further Korean-specific augmentations by LIG Nex1, and has more internal fuel capacity, enhanced avionics, a longer radome and a tactical datalink. The augmentations increased the range of the EL/M-2032 on FA-50 by two-third compared to the same radar on TA-50. The EL/M-2032 was initially chosen over Lockheed Martin's preferred AN/APG-67(V)4 radar or the SELEX Vixen 500E AESA radar. Other AESA radars such as Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar and Northrop Grumman's Scalable Agile Beam Radar are options for future production, and will likely be shared with the same AESA radar chosen for the USAF and ROKAF F-16 fighters. Samsung Thales is also independently developing a domestic multi-mode AESA radar for FA-50. In December 2008, South Korea awarded a contract to Korea Aerospace Industries to convert four T-50s to FA-50 standards by 2012. In 2012, The Republic of Korea Air Force has ordered 20 FA-50 fighters to be delivered by the end of 2014.

The T-50 is the proposed base for the more advanced F-50 fighter with strengthened wings, AESA radar, more internal fuel, enhanced electronic warfare capability, and a more powerful engine. The proposal is designated as T-50 Phase 3 program by KAI. Wing strengthening is required to support three underwing weapons pylons, as opposed to two underwing pylons on the TA-50 or FA-50. The AESA radar was expected to be RACR, which has 90% commonality with the AESA radar of the Super Hornet, or SABR, both of which are competing for KF-16's AESA radar upgrade program. Samsung Thales' AESA radar is also a possible option. The aircraft was altered to a single-seat configuration to allow more space for internal fuel and electronic warfare equipment. The engine could be either EJ200 or F414, upgraded to 20,000 lb or 22,000 lb thrust, which is about 12-25% higher than the F404's thrust. The engines are already being offered for the baseline T-50 for future customers. A similar Korean-led international fighter program exists named the KAI KF-X.

Design

Overview

The T-50 Golden Eagle design is largely derived from the F-16 Fighting Falcon, and they have many similarities: use of a single engine, speed, size, cost, and the range of weapons. KAI's previous engineering experience in license-producing the KF-16 was a starting point for the development of the T-50.

The trainer can carry two pilots in tandem seating. The high-mounted canopy developed by Hankuk Fiber is applied with stretched acrylic, providing the pilots with good visibility, and has been tested to offer the canopy with ballistic protection against 4-lb objects impacting at 400 knots. The altitude limit is 14,600 metres (48,000 ft), and airframe is designed to last 8,000 hours of service. There are seven internal fuel tanks with capacity of 2,655 litres (701 US gal), five in the fuselage and two in the wings. An additional 1,710 litres (452 US gal) of fuel can be carried in the three external fuel tanks. T-50 trainer variants have a paint scheme of white and red, and aerobatic variants white, black, and yellow.

The T-50 Golden Eagle uses a single General Electric F404-102 turbofan engine license-produced by Samsung Techwin, upgraded with a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system jointly developed by General Electric and Korea Aerospace Industries. The engine consists of three-staged fans, seven axial stage arrangement, and an afterburner. The aircraft has a maximum speed of Mach 1.4-1.5. Its engine produces a maximum of 78.7 kN (17,700 lbf) of thrust with afterburner. The General Electric F414 engine has been suggested as the new engine for the T-50 family, as well as Rolls Royce's EJ200 to allow better compatibility with European air forces. Both engines provide more thrust compared to the F404.

Avionics

The T-50's central processing unit and its operating system are developed by MDS Technology. The T-50's NEOS avionics operating system is the first and only real-time operating system to be developed by an Asian company, and holds both DO-178B and IEEE POSIX certification. Samsung Thales and LIG Nex1 are the main avionics and electronic warfare equipment developers for T-50 and its variants. Other South Korean companies and defense institutes such as DoDAAM Systems, Aeromaster, Intellics, and Korea Institute of Defense Analysis are responsible for the aircraft's secondary avionics and embedded systems, including store management computers, avionics testing equipment, flight data recorders, portable maintenance aids, data analysis software, post-flight data processing system, aircraft structure and engine management software, and mission planning and support systems, which includes the mission computer.

Hanwha supplies the mechanical parts for the flight control system, and WIA supplies the undercarriage. The T-50 is equipped with a Honeywell H-764G embedded global positioning/inertial navigation system and HG9550 radar altimeter. The aircraft is the first trainer to feature triple-redundant digital fly-by-wire controls. The cockpit panels, switches, and joysticks are produced by South Korea's FirsTec and Sungjin Techwin, head-up display by DoDaaM Systems, and multi-function display by Samsung Thales. Other South Korean subcontractors such as Elemech, Dawin Friction, and Withus cooperate in T-50 components production.

Armament and equipment

The TA-50 mounts a three-barrel cannon version of the M61 Vulcan internally behind the cockpit, which fires linkless 20 mm ammunition. Wingtip rails can accommodate the AIM-9 Sidewinders missile, a variety of additional weapons can be mounted to underwing hardpoints. Compatible air-to-surface weapons include the AGM-65 Maverick missile, Hydra 70 and LOGIR rocket launchers, CBU-58 and Mk-20 cluster bombs, and Mk-82, −83, and −84 general purpose bombs.

FA-50 can be externally fitted with Rafael's Sky Shield or LIG Nex1's ALQ-200K ECM pods, Sniper or LITENING targeting pods, and Condor 2 reconnaissance pods to further improve the fighter's electronic warfare, reconnaissance, and targeting capabilities. Other improved weapon systems over TA-50 include SPICE multifunctional guidance kits, Textron CBU-97/105 Sensor Fuzed Weapon with WCMD tail kits, JDAM, and JDAM-ER for more comprehensive air-to-ground operations, and AIM-120 missiles for BVR air-to-air operations. FA-50 has provisions for, but does not yet integrate, Python and Derby missiles, also produced by Rafael, and other anti-ship missiles, stand-off weapons, and sensors to be domestically developed by Korea.

Operational history

Possible sales

The T-50 was competing for a Polish Air Force order for 16 aircraft with ex-Finnish Air Force BAE Hawk 51s, refurbished by the Finnish defence company, Patria. In 2010 a new tender for advanced jet trainer and lead-in fighter trainer aircraft was issued. Competing aircraft include the T-50P, M-346, and Hawk T2/128. In 2011, BAE announced that it had withdrawn from the contest, leaving M-346 and T-50P as its remaining two contenders. The winner of this competition is planned to begin replacing the PZL TS-11 Iskra by 2015. In 2011 the competition was cancelled and relaunched in 2012 with new specifications that doesn't include previous requirements for fly-by-wire, supersonic speed and combat capacity.

Indonesia had been considering the T-50 to replace the BAE Hawk and A-4 Skyhawk as the T-50 had excellent interoperability with the current Indonesian F-16s. In 2010, Indonesia announced that T-50 was one of three candidates for its advanced jet trainer requirement, along with Yak-130 and L-159. Indonesia planned to buy 16 of these advanced trainer aircraft. In May 2011, Indonesia signed a contract to order 16 TA-50 for $400 million. The aircraft will feature weapons pylons and gun modules, enabling light attack capabilities.

Iraq was negotiating the acquisition of T-50 trainer jets, having first publicly expressed official interest during the Korea-Iraq summit in Seoul on 24 February 2009. In April 2010, Iraq has reopened the jet lead-in fighter-trainer competition for 24 aircraft, in which TA-50 will compete.

Israel has been evaluating the T-50 as a possible replacement for its Douglas TA-4H Skyhawk trainers since 2003. On 16 February 2012, Israel announced that its decision to procure thirty M-346 instead.

The Philippines is looking for 12 surface attack aircraft/lead-in fighter trainer to replace its retired F-5A Freedom Fighters, as the FA-50 is one of the contenders along with M-346.

Singapore evaluated the T-50 against the Italian Alenia Aermacchi M-346 and the BAE Hawk for a $500 million trainer acquisition program contract for 12–16 aircraft. The Singapore Ministry of Defense eventually selected the M-346 aircraft ahead of T-50 and BAE Hawk in July 2010.

The United Arab Emirates is seeking 35–40 fighter-trainers. In February 2009, UAE selected the M-346 over the T-50. But in January 2010, UAE reopened the trainer contest. In 2011, it was confirmed that T-50 is still competing in UAE.

In the United States, South Korea will attempt to trade T-50s for F-35s, assuming that it can find an American need for such an aircraft. T-50 is one of the contenders for the US Air Force's T-X program, with an export opportunity for up to 300 to 1000 aircraft, which is about $6 billion to $20 billion at 2008 flyaway cost. A possible reciprocal sale of F-35 to Korea will be 60 aircraft, valued at $8 billion.

Variants

T-50

Advanced trainer version.

T-50B

Aerobatic specialized T-50 version for Black Eagles aerobatic team.

T-50I

Export version for Indonesia.

TA-50

Tactical trainer/light attack version.

FA-50

Multirole all-weather version under development to replace F-5E/F by 2013. Originally named A-50, a prototype from a converted T-50 first flew in 2011.

Operators

 Indonesia

• Indonesian Air Force ordered 16 T-50s in May 2011. The first batch of which are expected to be delivered in 2013. They will replace the Hawk Mk 53 in IAF service.

 Philippines

• Philippine Air Force ordered 12 surface attack aircraft lead-in fighters or TA-50s from South Korea are expected to be delivered by 2013.

 Republic of Korea

• Republic of Korea Air Force operates 50 T-50s, 10 T-50Bs, 22 TA-50s. The ROKAF has ordered 20 FA-50s and will receive them between 2013 and 2014.

Specifications

Data from Korea Aerospace, Lockheed Martin

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 12.98 m (42 ft 7 in)
• Wingspan: 9.17 m (30 ft 1 in)
• Height: 4.78 m (15 ft 8.25 in)
• Empty weight: 6,450 kg (14,200 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 13,500 kg (29,700 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× General Electric F404 afterburning turbofan
  • Dry thrust: 53.07 kN (11,925 lbf)
  • Thrust with afterburner: 78.7 kN (17,700 lbf)

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 1.4~1.5
• Range: 1,851 km (1,150 mi)
• Service ceiling: 16,760 m (55,000 ft)
• Thrust/weight: 0.96
  
• Max g limit: -3 g / +8 g

Armament

• Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) General Dynamics A-50 3-barreled rotary cannon
• Hardpoints: Total: 7
• Rockets: Hydra 70, LOGIR
• Missiles:
  

• Air-to-air: AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM.
  
• Air-to-ground: AGM-65 Maverick

• Bombs: Mk 82, Mk 83, and Mk 84 general purpose bombs with SPICE, JDAM, or JDAM-ER guidance kits; CBU-97/105 sensor fuzed weapons, laser-guided bombs

See also

• KAI KT-1
• KAI KF-X

Related development

• General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
• AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo
• Mitsubishi F-2

Related lists

• List of Korea-related topics

References

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External links

• KAI page Template:Ko icon
• KAI T-50 page
• Lockheed Martin T-50 product page
• T-50 page on Deagel.com
• DoDAAM Systems PDPS

• Use dmy dates from July 2011
• KAI aircraft
• South Korean military trainer aircraft 2000–2009
• Single-engined jets