- Yes
- No
History
In 1989, the Republic of Korea planned to develop indigenous trainer aircraft. This plan was formalized as KTX-2 (nicknamed “Golden Eagle”), and Samsung Aerospace (later Korea Aerospace Industries) was chosen as a contractor in 1990. Since entering the development phase in 1997, the program has been threatened by the IMF crisis, narrowly avoiding cancellation.
In 1999, the KTX-2 was renamed to the T-50, in honor of the ROKAF’s 50th anniversary. The first prototype aircraft was rolled out in October 31, 2001, and it the maiden flight took place in August 2002. Finally in December 2005, the ROKAF received first production aircraft.
The next phase of the T-50 is the TA-50, a light attack aircraft variant. It is intended for lead-in fighter training (LIFT), thus have more armament and better avionics. Later the TA-50 evolved to the FA-50 Fighting Eagle, a definitive light combat aircraft version. The TA-50 and FA-50 is very successful aircraft due to their affordable performance and price, and have been or will be exported to a total of six countries.
In 2015, the U.S. Air Force initiated T-X program to acquire new jet trainer to replace T-38 talon. The Lockheed Martin submitted T-50A, an U.S. Air Force variant of the FA-50. In June 2016, the first T-50A aircraft flew in Sacheon, South Korea. In late November, it also flew in Greenville, South Carolina.
The T-50A was once considered the leading candidate for the T-X program, but lost out to Boeing’s T-7 Red Hawk.
Design
The T-50A is based on FA-50 Fighting Eagle, a ROKAF light combat aircraft version of the T-50 Golden Eagle.
The FA-50 is an aircraft co-developed by KAI and Lockheed Martin, and is basically a mini F-16. According to Lockheed Martin, these two aircraft have about 80% commonality with design and 70% commonality of parts.
The T-50A uses F404-GE-102 engine, which features enhanced thrust and improved fuel efficiency compared to the F404-GE-100. The difference between the two engines is similar to that of the naval variants, the F404-GE-400 and F404-GE-402.
The T-50A TX-1 aircraft has a Dorsal Air Refueling Tank (DART). This is basically a combination of conformal fuel tank and air refueling devices. The DART adds about 350 pounds (159 kg) of weight, but has no negative effect on drag, and is removable like a regular CFT.
The T-50A features a new cockpit with a single large display. It is reminiscent of the F-35’s cockpit, which is actually intended to make it easier for pilots to adapt to the F-35.
Armaments, Countermeasures
Since the original FA-50 is a light combat aircraft rather than fighter, its weapon carriage capability is fairly modest. The T-50A is the same in this regard, as it is essentially an advanced trainer that can be used as a light combat aircraft.
One unique armament of the T-50A is the gun, an A-50 Gun System. This is similar to the M197, but actually a M61A2 Vulcan with only three barrels. It holds 204 rounds of 20 mm ammunition, and rate of fire is 3000 rpm because of the reduced number of barrels.
Specifications
Crew: 2
Length: 43.1 ft (13.14 m)
Width: 31 ft (9.45 m)
Height: 15.8 ft (4.81 m)
Weight:
- Empty: 14,258 lb (6,467 kg)
- Maximum takeoff: 27,300 lb (12,383 kg)
Powerplant: F404-GE-102
- Maximum thrust: 17,700 lbf (78.7 kN)
Fuel capacity:
- Internal: 701 gal (2,655 ℓ)
- External: 3× 150 gal (568 ℓ)
Performances:
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.5
- Maximum rate of climb: 37,000 ft/m (11.3 km/m)
- Service Ceiling: 55,000 ft (16.7 km)
- Design load factor: -3 to +8 g
Armament:
- Hardpoints: 7 (2× wingtip, 4× under wing, 1× fuselage)
- Gun: A-50 Gun System (204 rounds)
- Rate of fire: 3,000 rpm
- Weight: 295 lb (133.8 kg)
- Air-to-air missile: 2× AIM-9L/M Sidewinder
- Air-to-ground missiles:
- 6× AGM-65D Maverick (1 on station 2/6, 2 on station 3/5)
- 4× AGM-65G Maverick
- Unguided bombs:
- 4× CBU-58
- 9× Mk 20 Rockeye
- 9× Mk 82
- Unguided rocket:
- 114× FFAR (1 LAU-3 on station 2/6, 2 LAU-3 on station 3/5)
Avionics:
- Radar: EL/M-2032
- RWR: SPS-45(V)5
Countermeasures: 60 chaff/flares
Sources
- Multi-Role Aircraft FA-50 from Korea Aerospace Industries
- T-50 Family from Korea Aerospace Industries
- A-50 Aircraft 20mm Gun System from General Dynamics Armament Systems
- T-50A Product Card from Lockheed Martin
- TF-50 Trainer Jet: The Future of Fighter Pilot Training | Lockheed Martin
- Lockheed Martin Flies First T-50A Upgraded Aircraft for T-X Competition - Jun 2, 2016
- Lockheed pops reporter into T-50 cockpit from FlightGlobal
- https://youtu.be/S-2VEQJEK9A?si=aeiCj0t77YA__IOP
- https://youtu.be/BTnYeAi877g?si=BamAsUAxHpMOzSOg