KAI T-50 Golden Eagle

KAI T-50 Golden Eagle
Country	South Korea
Role	T-50: Advanced jet trainer
Role	TA-50: Lead-in fighter trainer
Role	FA-50: Light combat aircraft
First flight	20 August 2002
Built	200+

The KAI T-50 Golden Eagle (골든이글) is a family of South Korean supersonic advanced jet trainers and light combat aircraft, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) with Lockheed Martin.

Source: KAI T-50 Golden Eagle on Wikipedia

KAI T-50 Golden Eagle
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Photos	80

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General Characteristics (T-50 Advanced Jet Trainer Variant)

The KAI T-50 Golden Eagle is a series of supersonic advanced jet trainers and light combat aircraft jointly developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Lockheed Martin. It is the first indigenous supersonic aircraft of South Korea and one of the world’s few supersonic trainers. It is primarily used to train pilots for modern fighters like the KF-16 and F-15K.

Property	Typical Value (T-50 / FA-50)
Role	Advanced Jet Trainer / Light Attack Fighter (FA-50)
Manufacturer	Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) / Lockheed Martin
First Flight	August 20, 2002
Crew	2 (Student and Instructor, in tandem)
Length	13.14 m (43 ft 1 in)
Wingspan	9.45 m (31 ft 0 in)
Max Takeoff Weight	12,300 kg (27,117 lb) (FA-50)

Design and Powerplant

Engine: Single General Electric F404-GE-102 turbofan engine, license-produced by Samsung Techwin.
Thrust Output (with afterburner): 78.7 kN (17,700 lbf).
Design Influence: The T-50’s aerodynamic features, including its single engine and overall shape, are heavily influenced by the F-16 Fighting Falcon, though it is smaller.
Controls: Features modern, triple-redundant digital fly-by-wire controls, a glass cockpit with multifunction displays, and a Hands-On Throttle-And-Stick (HOTAS) system.
Ejection Seats: Equipped with Martin-Baker zero-zero ejection seats.
Variants: The TA-50 is the Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) version, and the FA-50 Fighting Eagle is the dedicated light combat version with enhanced radar and weapon capacity.

Performance and Armament (FA-50 Light Combat Variant)

Maximum Speed: Mach 1.5 (approximately 1,837 km/h or 1,141 mph).
Service Ceiling: 14,600 m (48,000 ft).
Ferry Range: Approximately 1,850 km (999 nautical miles) with external fuel tanks.
Rate of Climb: High rate, approximately 39,000 ft/min.
Internal Gun: One internal 20 mm General Dynamics M197 three-barrel Gatling gun.
Hardpoints: Seven external hardpoints (one centerline, six underwing).
Typical Armament Options:
- Air-to-Air Missiles: AIM-9 Sidewinder.
- Air-to-Ground Missiles: AGM-65 Maverick.
- Bombs: General-purpose bombs (Mk-82, -83, -84), Cluster Bomb Units (CBUs), and Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM).