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Manufacturability
Delivery of South Korean Trainers to the Philippines Air Force
The T-50 program is a joint development between Lockheed Martin and Korea Aerospace Industries to meet the advanced jet pilot training needs of the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF). More than 100 aircraft have been built and delivered to the ROKAF. A second variant is currently in production called the FA-50 light combat aircraft.
From the beginning, the T-50 was envisioned to be exported to other countries. In 2011, this vision became a reality when Indonesia ordered sixteen aircraft, called the T-50i. All the Indonesian aircraft have been delivered.
In late 2013, the Government of Iraq ordered twenty-four T-50IQ aircraft, along with an integrated training center and ancillary support elements. In March 2014, the Philippines contracted for twelve FA-50PH variants of the aircraft…..
When it chose to develop the T-50, the ROKAF also planned a light attack version of the aircraft. Development of the FA-50, as it is called, began in December 2008 and was completed in late 2012. Key features of this aircraft included an upgraded cockpit, radar, self-protection systems, a tactical data link, and accommodations for precision guided weapons.
The initial production contract for twenty FA-50s was awarded to KAI in December 2011. Deliveries began in August 2013. A follow-on contract was placed in early 2013 for an additional forty aircraft, and deliveries will continue through 2016. Initial operating capability for the FA-50 was achieved in October 2014.
Production of the FA-50 for the ROKAF continues through 2016.
According to an article by Byeong-No, Yun published on the South Korean Ministry of Defense website:
A Korean light attack aircraft, the FA-50, has begun its export deliveries in the manner of direct flight.
The Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said on November 27 that two FA-50PH aircrafts produced for export to the Philippines departed from Sacheon, Gyeongsangnam-do, to Clark, the Philippines, a 2,482km-long flight.
The T-50 is designed for low-speed approach landings. A larger tail, flaperons, and rudder make the aircraft easier to control at lower speeds. In addition, the control surfaces move at faster rates to further improve handling characteristics. By design, the aircraft lands more easily than most fighters, including the T-38 it was designed to replace.
These first FA-50PHs are two out of 12 resulting from a 420 million-dollar contract made with the Department of National Defense-Armed Forces of the Philippines in March of last year.
KAI has made the first flight of a FA-50PH last June and will deliver 12 of them to the Philippines by 2017. The FA-50PH is a customized version of the FA-50 in operation by the Air Force, which is designed and produced for the Philippines.
The export of the FA-50PH is the first G-to-G the Armed Forces of the Philippines has ever made, and it is receiving much attention as its biggest defense program.
There were many problems to overcome in reaching the conclusion of the export contract for the FA-50PH due to fierce competition with other advanced countries, natural disasters in the Philippines, etc.
However, all these problems were finally overcome thanks to the sales diplomacy of our government, and KOTRA, DAPA and the Air Force all joining forces.
President Park Geun-hye invited Benigno Noynoy Aquino, the president of the Philippines, and entered into an MOU on cooperation in defense field. Discussion about the FA-50 export during his visit was crucial.
The KAI has been strengthening its status as it has exported 133 Korean aircrafts (reaching approximately 3.3 billion dollars), a series of KT-1 basic jet trainers and T-50 supersonic advanced trainers to Indonesia, Turkey, Peru, Iraq and Thailand so far.
