**PICS** KAI rolls out first production T/A-50

Steyr

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/01/26/352346/pictures-kai-rolls-out-first-production-ta-50.html

Defence
DATE:26/01/11
SOURCE:Flight International

KAI rolls out first production T/A-50
By Greg Waldron

Korea Aerospace Industries has rolled out the first production T/A-50, the light-attack variant of the T-50 Golden Eagle advanced jet trainer.

The South Korean air force has ordered 22 T/A-50s for lead-in fighter and ground-attack training, says an industry source. These will be delivered by the end of 2012.

© Korea Aerospace Industries






Virtually identical to the T-50, the T/A-50 is equipped with a three-barrelled 20mm cannon with 200 rounds. It can also carry air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons and has an ITT EL-2032 mechanically scanned radar.

The T/A-50 has achieved weapons certification for the Raytheon AGM-65 Maverick (above) air-to-ground and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, although it is not certificated to use the latest AIM-9X variant.

In 2013, following the end of T/A-50 production, KAI hopes to transition to building its developmental F/A-50, which could begin testing in 2012. Seoul has committed to buying 60 F/A-50s and could eventually order up to 150 to replace its air force's Northrop F-5Es.

muppet01

Looks like a Hawk on steroids.........:D

Tenger

muppet01 wrote: »

Looks like a Hawk on steroids.........:D

Thats funny, as I was thinking it looked like a mini- F-16!