T-50 Golden Eagle
The T-50 Golden Eagle is a supersonic advanced jet trainer being developed by KAI for the ROKAF. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, the principal subcontractor to KAI, is providing technical expertise in all aspects of the program and is responsible for developing the T-50 avionics system, flight control system and wings. The two companies are cooperatively marketing the T-50 internationally. As of August 2005, the South Korean Air Force had ordered about 50 T-50s.
T-50 Full Scale Development program began in 1997 and will continue through 2005. Initial production authorization is planned for the third quarter of 2003 with production deliveries to begin in 2005. The 1st flight took place in October 2002, followed by T-50 production aircraft delivery to the Republic of Korea Air Force with plans to purchase additional T-50 aircraft to replace the aging fleets of F-4s and F-5s.
KAI has been simultaneously developing the aircraft systems(four flyable test aircrafts, two structural test aircraft), integrated logistics support, and the training systems in the T-50 Program since its full-scale development start in October 1997, which is unprecedented. Working side by side with 500 collaborating companies, KAI has successfully performed the entire development process of the new aircraft model including: completing the preliminary design in 1998, finishing the detail design through the aircraft OML freeze in 1999, and completing the component manufacturing and final assembly of the FWD, CTR, AFT fuselage and empennage through the Critical Design Review(CDR) completed in 2000. In addition, KAI successfully completed the final assembly of the first flyable test aircraft(AA-1) in January 2001, three months ahead of schedule. AA-1 rolled out in October 2002 and successfully performed its historic first flight on August 20, 2002. The second flyable test aircraft, AA-2 successfully flew in November 2002.
The T-50 will have the maneuverability, endurance and advanced systems to prepare future pilots to fly current and next-generation fighters like advanced F-16s, the F-22 and the Joint Strike Fighter. These same characteristics give it an excellent capability as a lead-in fighter trainer and potential light-combat aircraft in many air forces.
There is a very real problem emerging in the fighter community today. The aircraft currently used to train fighter pilots started production in the 1950s and 1960s and are approaching the limit of their service life. Age and attrition as well as widening gaps between past and current technologies are creating concern in many fighter communities around the world.
Because 4th generation fighters today are more complex and capable than ever before, fighter pilots must properly trained to operate their aircraft at the maximum envelop to fully utilize the fighter capability during combat. To address these critical issues, the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has commissioned Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company (LM Aero) to develop and produce the T-50 for the ROKAF.
Under a partnership arrangement, KAI and LM Aero have jointly invested in the T-50, making it the only advanced supersonic trainer currently in development. The T-50 is designed as an advanced trainer for fighter pilots selected to fly world's 4th and 5th generation fighter aircraft. It is the highest efficiency training system because it provides trainee pilots rapid transition to a modern fighter environment utilizing the latest advancement in aviation technology. T-50 can also function as a Light Combat Aircraft for the defense of national borders. T-50 is the advanced jet trainer for tomorrow's fighter pilot.
As the prime contractor for the T-50, KAI is responsible for system integration and manufacturing. The trainer will be assembled and delivered at KAI's Aircraft plant in Sachon Korea. In partnership with KAI for the development of T-50, LM Aero is providing technical assistance, the operational flight program for avionics and flight control, and manufacture of the wing. The T-50 program is currently in full scale development.
With a robust prediction of international sales for Advanced Jet Trainer and Light Combat Aircraft, the T-50 is ready to service the needs of customers worldwide. With a growing industrial alliance, form a broad spectrum of leading aerospace companies worldwide. The T-50 program is positioned to service the fighter training community well into the 21st century. The T-50 aircraft is the only advanced jet trainer introduced in the 2000s. KAI aims at marketing approximately 1,200 aircraft, worth 40 billion dollars, recording 36% market share of the world's advanced trainer market.
Designed for high performance, the T-50 features digital fly-by-wire for precision aircraft handling, relaxed static stability to improve maneuverability, variable camber wing with strakes to maximize the lift to drag ratio and improve directional stability, and tandem seating for superior visibility, and efficient turbo-fan engine utilizing proven technology for maximum reliability and safety, and advanced nav-attack sensor for multi-role mission, and the On Board Oxygen Generating System. T-50 is the only advanced Trainer for the 4th and 5th generation fighter.
The T-50 has a maximum take off gross weight of 26,400 lbs, and empty weight is 14,200 lbs. The engine provides 17,700 lbs of thrust giving the aircraft the maximum speed of 1.4 mach. The aircraft load factor is ranged between -3 and +8 g. The T-50 service ceiling is 48,000 fts and airframe has a structural life over 8,000 hrs. The T-50 is powered by GE-F404 engine. A high performance engine combining the latest technology and engine reliability and safety. It features full authority digital engine control: rapid throttle response without throttle restrictions and automatic engine monitoring with excellent stall free operation and no visible smoke.
The T-50 advanced cockpit features the bubble canopy and tandem seating for superior outer vision. It has a Head-Up Display with excellent field of view for displaying flight information. Two large 5" color multi-function displays for displaying mission and aircraft data as well as weapon selection and control for the light combat aircraft variant. Digital instrumentation and integrated HOTAS operation to allow head up operation.
The T-50 is the first trainer to employ electronic fly-by-wire and digital flight control for precision maneuvering. The digital flight controls are triple redundant and triplex digital flight control provides mult-mode control laws and a flight envelop limit. The actuator is direct drive with actuator reconfiguration mode.
As an advanced jet trainer, the T-50 is used to train pilots on basic cockpit operation, maneuvering and situation awareness. The T-50 is also designed as a Lead In Fighter Trainer where tactical skills and advanced flight instruction are all taught.
The T-50 is a total training system. Classroom training provides student with basic theory and operation of the aircraft and mission. The ground base training system is a computer assisted learning tool designed to transition the classroom instruction into practical flying skills. The simulator is used to emulate the aircraft cockpit and flying profile. Trainees using the simulator can transfer their flying mission back to the ground base training system for mission playback to analyze their performance. The trainees are then taken into aircraft for flight training. Basic aircraft instrument and handling are taught along with advanced tactical and new operational skills and weapon delivery.
On August 30, 2005, the first production line T-50 Golden Eagle rolled off Korea Aerospace Industries's manufacturing plant.
