ANDREW DOYLE / SEOUL
Meanwhile KAI and Lockheed Martin begin to hammer out deal for US manufacturer's share of trainer production
The South Korean air force is urging the country's ministry of national defence (MND) to formulate a requirement for a single-seat fighter version of the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)/ Lockheed Martin T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic trainer to replace ageing Northrop Grumman F-5s.
KAI and Lockheed Martin, meanwhile, have begun talks to determine the US manufacturer's participation in T-50 series production, due to start latenext year. The discussions follow the T-50's first flight on 20 August (Flight International, 27 August-2 September).
Initial production authorisation is due in the third quarter of next year and the South Korean air force requires 94 two-seaters, split evenly between the basic version and the A-50 lead-in fighter trainer. Thelatter will be equipped with a Lockheed Martin APG-67 radar and an internal gun.
KAI has completed conceptual studies of a third, single-seat model known as the F-50, which the South Korean air force is eyeing to replace its remaining F-5s.
The F-50 would have a high degree of commonality with its stablemates, but the single-seat configuration would provide space for a more sophisticated radar and additional fuel. It could also have a thinner wing to improve cruise performance, but KAI stresses that the F-50 remains purely conceptual and has not been defined in response to any MND request.
South Korean air force sources say, however, that it is hoped the MND will draft a requirement by early next year and suggest up to 100 aircraft could be needed. AnF-50 green light would also help KAI find work for engineers following the completion of T-50/A-50 development.
Lockheed Martin produced the wings for the first six full-scale development T/A-50s, two of which are ground test articles. It is also responsible for avionics integration and the flight control system for the four flying prototypes. The company is likely to retain a similar industrial stake when series production gets under way.
"By agreement Lockheed Martin is expected to produce about 20% of the workshare," says KAI T-50 international marketing director Alex Jun.
Lockheed Martin is providing 13% of the T-50/A-50 programme's $2 billion development cost, with KAI paying 17% and the South Korean government the remaining 70%. Production authorisation for the A-50 is due in early 2006.
Jun says potential customers include Greece, Israel, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
Source: Flight International
