Air force buys Korean training jets

Air force buys Korean training jets

Four T-50 supersonic trainers by Korea Aerospace Industries will be delivered in 30 months. (Photo supplied by Royal Thai Air Force)
Four T-50 supersonic trainers by Korea Aerospace Industries will be delivered in 30 months. (Photo supplied by Royal Thai Air Force)

The Royal Thai Air Force has signed a contract to buy four T-50TH supersonic jets from a South Korean company in a deal worth US$110 million (3.9 billion baht).

The T-50TH is the training version of the T-50 Golden Eagle jet developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). The air force also signed an option to purchase 20 more T-50 jets in the future, Korean media reported.

All four jets will be delivered within 30 months. The contract also includes basic parts, tools, pilot training, technical staff and technology transfer.

The contract was signed in Seoul on Thursday by RTAF chief of staff Jom Roongsawang and Ha Sung Yong, the CEO of KAI.

RTAF spokesman ACM Monthon Satchukorn said on Friday that the cabinet had approved the purchase in principle on Oct 21 last year. After deciding on the model, the air force informed the cabinet on Aug 25. The defence minister approved the purchase on Sept 10.

The T-50TH is a supersonic trainer that can double as a light attack aircraft. It will replace the ageing fleet of Czech-made Aero L-39ZA Albatros aircraft, which will be decommissioned.

"The L-39 incurs high maintenance costs and its technology is outdated," said ACM Monthon. "They can no longer train pilots for the modern fighter models we have already bought, like the (Swedish-made) Gripen 39 C/D and the (US-made) F-16 MLU."

Another air force source told the dpa news agency that the Korean planes were chosen over Chinese L-15 trainers.

Korean media said that KAI has been actively seeking orders for the model. The Philippines purchased 12 T-50 variants in March 2014, and Indonesia purchased 16 T-50 jets in 2011.

The United States is also considering purchasing T-50 supersonic jets for its next-generation $10-billion T-X trainer programme.

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