BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE
Company in bid to minimise break in trainer production by generating interest in variant.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is trying to attract launch orders for its new KO-1 armed trainer in the hope of minimising a forthcoming break in KT-1 trainer production.
The KT-1 line at Sachon will run out of work within the next few weeks, as the last of 92 ordered aircraft is completed.
KAI had hoped to keep its KT-1 plant - which opened in 1999 and has 300 employees - busy for several years with export orders for the basic trainer and the KO-1 armed variant for forward air control and counter insurgency missions.
The company has netted only seven exports - to Indonesia - that were delivered earlier this year. KAI is trying to sell another 13 KT-1s to the country, but a lack of funds has prevented its air force from acquiring a full squadron. The original seven aircraft were traded by South Korea for eight Indonesia Aerospace CN235 military transports.
KAI is focusing on completing development of the KO-1, which began two years ago, and modifying the design of the variant to meet the needs of potential customers understood to include Ecuador and Venezuela. South Korea's air force is considering acquiring 40 KO-1s.
Funds are limited because South Korea is about to commit over $1 billion to buy the first batch of T-50 advanced trainers from KAI. The T-50 initial production authorisation contract, due to be awarded in August, may be signed this week at the Korean air show in Busan.
Budget constraints have prevented KAI from meeting its initial goal of starting KO-1 deliveries to the air force in 2004. KAI says it will be two to three years before the KO-1 will be ready for delivery.
The KO-1 will feature enhanced avionics, including head-up and multifunction displays, a weapons control panel and a mission computer
Source: Flight International
