Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) says it is close to signing an initial order for KT-1 basic trainer aircraft with the Indonesian air force.
According to Yeun Seuk Jeung, general manager of KAI's fixed wing programmes section, the company expects an order for "seven or eight" aircraft to be signed at the end of the month. "They have selected the KT-1. Right now, we are in commercial negotiations," he says.
The full Indonesian requirement for basic trainers is understood to be about 20, but Yeun says that the numbers in the forthcoming order are restricted by the defence budget. Deliveries are due to begin about two years after contract signature, says Yeun.
Alongside recent presentations to the Turkish air force, KAIis also proposing the aircraft to the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) air force to replace 1,500 Nanchang CJ-6 trainers in its inventory.
Yeun says that approaches to the PLA to date have been unofficial. "We are looking for a company to act as our agent and industrial partner," he says, adding that KAI will "definitely" offer China unspecified production work on the aircraft.
The manufacturer will have delivered eight KT-1s to the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) by the end of this year, and will continue deliveries at a rate of two aircraft per month.
The RoKAF has ordered around 100 KT-1s.
Source: Flight International
