South Korea's Daewoo Heavy Industries expects the Government to give full approval for production of its KTX-1 primary trainer by the end of 1998.
The company is now completing its fifth KTX-1 airframe, with the configuration effectively similar to that of a production-standard aircraft. The South Korean air force has a requirement for about 100 of the aircraft, the first of which is due to be delivered in 2000.
Duck Joo Ra, KTX-1 programme director, says that the "-fifth aircraft will undergo ground evaluation, with flight tests to follow shortly. The next milestone will be in the third or fourth quarter of 1998, when we are looking to get Government approval".
Daewoo is continuing to seek an international partner to aid its export aspirations.
Source: Flight International