- Yes
- No
KAI T-50TH (Phase 3) Golden Eagle - Royal Thai Air Force’s new Combat Trainer
Hi and welcome to my 30th suggestion, which is about the Thai T-50TH combat trainer, hope you like it. 
First of all:
- This is a suggestion for an aircraft we could see in game at some point in the Future , that doesn´t mean next Patch or somewhere in the near Future
- Feel free to share more Information and / or correct me if something is wrong
- Discuss respectfully, any aggressive kind or verbal abuse will be reported, the Forum rules also apply here
Background History
The T-50 program was all about creating an indigenous trainer that could fly at supersonic speeds. Its main purpose was to get pilots ready for planes like the F-16 and F-15, taking over from the old T-38 and A-37 trainers the ROKAF was using. The lineage of the T-50 series, particularly the FA-50 variant, bears a striking resemblance to the configuration of the KF-16. The groundwork for this endeavor, termed the KTX-2 program and initiated in 1992, faced a setback in 1995 when financial constraints led to its suspension by the Ministry of Finance and Economy. Nonetheless, the basic design for the aircraft was established by 1999.
Funding came mostly from the South Korean government (70%), with KAI chipping in (17%) and Lockheed Martin (13%). The T-50 got its official name, the “T-50 Golden Eagle,” in February 2000. The U.S. military saved the “T-50A” name to avoid mix-ups. The first T-50 has been assembled between in 2001 and took its first flight in August 2002. KAI and Lockheed Martin were working together to sell the T-50 globally. In December 2003, the ROKAF signed up for 25 T-50s, expecting them between 2005 and 2009.
The first T-50s had Lockheed Martin’s AN/APG-67(v)4 radar and a F404-GE-102 engine with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) made by Samsung Techwin under license.
In September 2015, Thailand’s government decided to go for a KAI T-50 variant, known as the T-50TH, for its air force instead of the Chinese Hongdu L-15. They wanted to replace their old L-39 Albatros trainers. The plan was to get four T-50TH planes delivered by March 2018. Then, in July 2017, Thailand’s government approved eight more aircraft. They were all set to sign the contract later that month. The deliveries started rolling in from January 2018 onward.
Royal Thai Air Force T-50THs have undergone phased improvements over the years. Phase 3 included the Israeli-design EL/M-2032 radar, CMDS (chaff, flare and Datalink), RWR and other modifications to upgrade the original T-50 trainer to the capability level of an TA-50.
The T-50TH (Phase 3) Overall
The T-50 Golden Eagle shares a similarity with the F-16 Fighting Falcon, although its about 80% smaller.
Inside, the trainer accommodates two pilots seated in tandem.
The design of this aircraft includes a mid-wing monoplane with slightly swept wings equipped with widely extended wing roots (LERX). The aircraft is controlled via fly-by-wire, with all functions being controlled using the HOTAS principle.
The cockpit itself is equipped with four 127 mm multifunction screens (MFD) from Honeywell and a head-up display (HUD). Avionics include various systems such as an inertial navigation system and GPS. It is powered by a FADEC-controlled engine from General Electric, which is supplied by seven internal tanks with a total of 2650 liters and up to three external tanks with a capacity of 570 liters.
Following the Phase 3 upgrades, the T-50TH Golden Eagle has received improvements in its capabilities.
Among the notable improvements are the integration of EL/M-2032 radar, Radar Warning Receivers (RWR), AGM-65 and countermeasures. Additionally, the incorporation of a datalink system represents a noteworthy enhancement in communication and coordination during training exercises. This feature facilitates real-time data sharing between multiple aircraft.
Armament of the T-50TH (Phase 3)
The armament of the T-50TH (Phase 3) is better than the standard version, but weaker than that of a full-fledged TA-50 Block 20.
The on-board armament is a three-barreled M61A1 with 205 rounds, and the AIM-9P and AIM-9L are available as air-to-air missiles. For ground targets there are LAU-3 rockets, AGM-65, Mk.82 bombs and GBU-38 JDAM, although technically you cannot use JDAMs with lack of self-designation capability due to missing targeting pod.
Since there is nothing concrete about the number of specific weapons, I list them with X-Y (*number to number)*.
Air-to-Air Missiles
- 2x AIM-9P
- 2x AIM-9P-4
- 2x AIM-9L / M
Dumb-Bombs / Rockets
- 6-8x Mk.82
- 2-4x LAU-3
Air-to-Ground Missiles
- 2-4x AGM-65D / G
Specifications, Electronics and Internal
- Crew: 2
- Length: 13.13 m
- Wingspan: 9.45 m
- Height: 4.85 m
- Max. takeoff weight: 12.383 kg
- Powerplant: 1x F404-GE-102
- Dry thrust: 53.07 kN
- Afterburner thrust: 78.7 kN
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.5
- Service ceiling: 16.700 m
- Rate of climb: 198 m/s
- Thrust to weight: 0.96
- Maximum g-load: +8g / -3g
Thanks for your time, hope you liked it 
[Will add more if there are some (more) important / declassified things]
[PM or comment if a Link or Picture isn´t working]
Sources:
Links
https://welcome-page.rtaf.mi.th/blog/khlangphaaph-14/t-50th-89
KAI KOREA AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES, LTD.
https://web.archive.org/web/20201130044358/https://www.defenseworld.net/news/22285/Thailand___s_Air_Force_Commissions_First_Four_T_50TH_Supersonic_Advanced_Trainers#.X8R4mn3P23A
The delegation of the Thai Air Force inspected the assembly line of the T-50TH jet TCB in South Korea - ВПК.name
https://archive.ph/20170714071412/http://www.defensenews.com/articles/thailand-to-buy-additional-kai-t-50s-from-south-korea-for-258m#selection-1777.154-1777.311
KAI will supply the Thai Air Force with additional T-50TH TCB - ВПК.name
AAG_th บันทึกประจำวัน: กองทัพอากาศไทยยืนยันแผนที่จะจัดซื้อเครื่องบินขับไล่และฝึก T-50TH เกาหลีใต้เพิ่ม ๒เครื่องสุดท้าย
DEFENSE STUDIES: RTAF T-50TH will Have FCS and Weapon System Installed
KAI Secures Thai T-50 Upgrades | Aviation International News
https://www.prachachat.net/politics/news-106788
Thailand awards T-50TH Golden Eagle upgrade to KAI - Asia Pacific Defense Journal
タイ、「韓国Ｔ－５０」２機の追加購買を撤回か…コロナで予算削減 | Joongang Ilbo | 中央日報
Thailand confirms plan to buy additional T-50TH aircraft
タイ空軍、KAI T-50TH 4機を採用 | FlyTeam ニュース
https://bemil.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/12/10/2014121001237.html
https://militaryleak.com/2019/06/05/kai-awarded-contract-to-upgrade-rtaf-t-50/
THAIDEFENSE-NEWS: ข้อมูลเกี่ยวกับ เครื่องบินฝึกนักบินขับไล่ขั้นต้น T-50TH
กองทัพอากาศสรุปการจัดหา T-50TH เพิ่ม 2 ลำ ล็อตสุดท้าย – thaiarmedforce
Thailand to Buy T-50TH Aircraft with ELTA Radars | Israel Defense
List of Suggestions of ASEAN region
