The KAI T-50 Golden Eagle is a modern South Korean training and combat aircraft. The prototype flight took place in 2002. Three years later, the machine entered the line in the South Korean Air Force (ROKAF) and remains in it today. In total, about 130-140 copies of this aircraft were built. The drive is provided by a single motor General Electric F404 turbojet . The aircraft has a maximum speed of 1.5 Ma and a maximum range of 1,850 kilometers. The deck armament is a single 20mm General Dynamics A-50 cannon.
The T-50 Golden Eagle was created to replace the T-38 and A-37 training aircraft in ROKAF, as well as to enable advanced training for future F-15K and KF-16 fighter pilots. The new machine was developed at the Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) plants with the great help of Lockheed Martin. The T-50 Golden Eagle is characterized by very high performance for a machine of this class, high maneuverability and very good piloting qualities. It also has rich and modern electronic equipment. It is probably one of the most modern training and combat aircraft in the world at the moment. Until now, several variants of this machine have been created, first of all: T-50 (basic, training version), T-50B (aerobatic version), FA-50 (light attack aircraft) and F-50 (light fighter). Currently, the KAI T-50 is used by the air forces of South Korea, Indonesia, Iraq, the Philippines and Thailand.
