KAI T-50 Golden Eagle

[Zarvan]

Advanced trainer

The T-50 Golden Eagle is one of the fastest trainers in the world

Entered service 2005
Crew 2 men
Dimensions and weight
Length 13.14 m
Wing span 9.45 m
Height 4.94 m
Weight (empty) 6.4 t
Weight (maximum take off) 12.3 t
Engines and performance
Engines 1× General Electric F404 turbofan
Traction (dry / with afterburning) 53.07 / 78.7 kN
Maximum speed 1 640 km/h
Service ceiling 14.63 km
Range 1 851 km


The T-50 Golden Eagle is a light supersonic trainer jet. It was developed by South Korean aircraft company called Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in cooperation with US-based Lockheed Martin. Its development began in the mid-1990s. Development costs were split 17% by KAI, 13% by Lockheed Martin and 70% by South Korean government. The Golden Eagle made its first flight in 2002. From 2005 this aircraft is in service with Republic of Korea Air Force (49 units). It has been exported to Indonesia (16) and ordered by Iraq and Philippines. As of 2015 a total of 116 units of this aircraft were built in four different variants. Another 96 aircraft of different variants were ordered and should be delivered in the near future. Within the next 30 years KAI and Lockheed Martin plan to sell around 1 000 Golden Eagles and its variants for various customers.

This trainer aircraft is powered by one General Electric F404 turbofan with afterburner. This engine is manufactured under the General Electric license, by a South Korean company named Samsung Hanwha Techwin. The aircraft has a top speed of 1 640 km/h at 9 km altitude, which makes the Golden Eagle one of the fastest trainers in the world.

This aircraft is in the same class as trainers like American Boeing / BAE Systems T-45 Goshawk. It is generally agreed that the Golden Eagle is better than Yakovlev Yak-130 or BAE Systems Hawk. However, accordint to Singapore defense officials the price/quality ratio is not in the favor of the Golden Hawk. At a unit costs between $21 million and $30 million, Singapore Ministry of Defense decided to cancel their bid for the Golden Hawk, and decided to purchase Alenia Aermacchi M-346

The baseline KAI T-50 evolved into a whole family of military aircraft, all of which can be employed as trainers.



Variants



T-50B is an acrobatic version of the original model. It is used solely by Korea Air Force's aerobatic team, called the Black Eagles. South Korea operates 9 of these aircraft;

TA-50 lead-in fighter trainer and light attack aircraft. Originally it was named the A-50. Normally the TA-50 is used as trainer, although if required it can be used as light attack aircraft. This aircraft is fitted with a 20-mm 3-barrel rotary cannon. It can carry AIM-120 and AIM-9 air-to-air missiles, AGM-65 air-to-ground missiles, Mk.82 or Mk.83 bombs. It is equipped with a multi-mode fire control radar. South Korea operates 22 of these aircraft. Iraq ordered 24 of these aircraft. Deliveries are planned to begin in 2016;

; FA-50 lightweight multi-role fighter. This combat-ready version made its maiden flight in 2011. It can also carry weapons similar to those of the TA-50. This aircraft is equipped with one 20 mm General Dynamics A-50 3-barrel rotary cannon. It has 7 hardpoints that can carry a total of 3 740 kg of ordnance. This aircraft is equipped with a multi-mode fire control radar. Some sources report that in some cased the FA-50 is even compatible with KAI KF-16 multi-role fighter. The Republic of Korea adopted this aircraft in 2013 and operates 20 units, while 60 more are on order. It replaces the ageingF-5E/F Tiger II. Philippine Air Force ordered 12 of these aircraft.

 

[Indus Falcon]

T-50 Multirole Trainer · Lockheed Martin

When it was launched, it was touted to be 80% as capable as an F-16. Which block? I don't know.

 

[Muhammad Omar]

The Trainer is almost the price of JF-17

 

[princefaisal]

The T-50 Golden Eagle has digital fly-by-wire controls and hands on throttle and stick (HOTAS). The cockpit displays include two 127mm full colour Honeywell multifunction displays, Honeywell instrumentation displays and a head-up display (HUD) supplied by BAE Systems.

The AN/APG-67(V)4 multi-mode radar, supplied by Lockheed Martin, is installed in the nose of the LIFT version.

The two-crew, tandem-stepped cockpit is fitted with an onboard oxygen generating system (OBOGS) and ejection seats supplied by Martin Baker of Uxbridge, UK.

The FA-50 is the most advanced version of the T-50, possessing more internal fuel capacity, enhanced avionics, a longer radome and a tactical datalink. It is equipped with a modified EL/M-2032 pulse-Doppler radar with Korean-specific modifications by LIG Nex1. The engine could be either Eurojet EJ200 or General Electric F414, upgraded to 20,000 lb or 22,000 lb thrust, roughly 12-25% higher than the F404's thrust;and are offered to prospective customers for the T-50. The radar of the FA-50 has a range two-thirds greater than the TA-50's own.The EL/M-2032 was initially chosen over Lockheed Martin's preferred AN/APG-67(V)4 and SELEX Vixen 500E active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars. Other AESA radars such as Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar and Northrop Grumman's Scalable Agile Beam Radar are options for future production, and may be shared with the radar chosen for USAF and ROKAF F-16 fighters.

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 include SPICE multifunctional guidance kits, Textron CBU-97/105 Sensor Fuzed Weapon with WCMD tail kits, JDAM, JDAM-ER for more comprehensive air-to-ground operations, and AIM-120 missiles for BVR air-to-air operations.

The Trainer is almost the price of JF-17

Maximum 30 T-50s would be enough figure (I guess).

 

[Muhammad Omar]

The T-50 Golden Eagle has digital fly-by-wire controls and hands on throttle and stick (HOTAS). The cockpit displays include two 127mm full colour Honeywell multifunction displays, Honeywell instrumentation displays and a head-up display (HUD) supplied by BAE Systems.

The AN/APG-67(V)4 multi-mode radar, supplied by Lockheed Martin, is installed in the nose of the LIFT version.

The two-crew, tandem-stepped cockpit is fitted with an onboard oxygen generating system (OBOGS) and ejection seats supplied by Martin Baker of Uxbridge, UK.

The FA-50 is the most advanced version of the T-50, possessing more internal fuel capacity, enhanced avionics, a longer radome and a tactical datalink. It is equipped with a modified EL/M-2032 pulse-Doppler radar with Korean-specific modifications by LIG Nex1. The engine could be either Eurojet EJ200 or General Electric F414, upgraded to 20,000 lb or 22,000 lb thrust, roughly 12-25% higher than the F404's thrust;and are offered to prospective customers for the T-50. The radar of the FA-50 has a range two-thirds greater than the TA-50's own.The EL/M-2032 was initially chosen over Lockheed Martin's preferred AN/APG-67(V)4 and SELEX Vixen 500E active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars. Other AESA radars such as Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar and Northrop Grumman's Scalable Agile Beam Radar are options for future production, and may be shared with the radar chosen for USAF and ROKAF F-16 fighters.

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 include SPICE multifunctional guidance kits, Textron CBU-97/105 Sensor Fuzed Weapon with WCMD tail kits, JDAM, JDAM-ER for more comprehensive air-to-ground operations, and AIM-120 missiles for BVR air-to-air operations.


Maximum 30 T-50s would be enough figure (I guess).

even 20 Million $ a piece 30 would Cost 600 million $

 

[princefaisal]

even 20 Million $ a piece 30 would Cost 600 million $

Pakistan is getting 15 AH-1Z helicopters at an estimated price of $ 925 million, then $ 600 million seems affordable for advanced level training of F-16 and JF-17 pilots.