Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has frozen the configuration of the Samsung KTX-2 trainer, now under development for the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF).
Alex Jun, KAI's general manager, says: "We have just passed an important milestone, in freezing the aircraft's outer mould line." This means the aerodynamic design is complete, and the company, with its partner, Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems, is progressing into detailed design of the structure and systems.
Jun says the company is aiming to have all production drawings complete in time for a critical design review next August. "The configuration, subsystems and subsystem vendors, and the requirement of line-replaceable units is frozen."
Lockheed Martin is taking responsibility for the aircraft's flight control system, avionics integration and wing design. The prototype KTX-2 is due to fly in June 2002 - one of six prototypes to be built, two of which are for static testing. Two of the flying prototypes will be configured as -2A advanced trainers and two will be -2B fighter lead-in trainers.
Series production is set to start in August 2003, with roll-out of the first production aircraft in October 2005.The RoKAF's final requirement has not been confirmed, but KAI says an order for 90-100 KTX-2s is likely. The South Korean Government has committed itself only to development - valued at about $1.5 billion.
Source: Flight International
