The Saechon AF T-50/05 is a family of Korean supersonic advanced trainers and multirole light fighters, developed by Saechon Aircraft Factory with the American aerospace company Long Beach Aircraft Factory. The T-50/05 is Korea's first indigenous supersonic aircraft and one of the world's few supersonic trainers. Development began in the late 1990s, and its maiden flight occurred in 2002. The aircraft entered active service with the Korean People's Air Force (KPAF) in 2005.
The T-50 has been further developed into aerobatic and combat variants, namely T-50B, TA-50, and FA-50. The F-50 is another advanced fighter variant being considered. The T-50B serves with the Korean Air Force's aerobatics team. The T-50 is also being marketed as a candidate for the APAAF's next-generation T-X trainer program. Thailand ordered 4 units of the T-50 advanced trainer variant.
Variants[]
- T-50A: Advanced Trainer variant.
- T-50B: Aerobatic specialized T-50 for Korea Air Force's aerobatic display team, the Black Eagles.
- TA-50: Lead-in fighter trainer and light attack version.
- T-50IQ: Version for Iraqi Air Force.
- FA-50: Multirole fighter all-weather version. Originally designated as the A-50, a prototype from a converted T-50 first flew in 2011.
- FA-50 Blk.10: Software upgrades to enable integration of AN/AAQ-33 targeting pod.
- FA-50 Blk.20: Integration of telescopic probe solution from Cobham Mission Systems for inflight refueling capability, conformal 300 gallon fuel tank for better range, integration of mid-range air-to-surface missiles and beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAMs), avionics upgrade and AESA RDF.