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Korean Aerospace T-50 Golden Eagle

Type
Supersonic jet-trainer and lightweight fighter (Überschallschneller Strahltrainer und leichter Jäger/Jagdbomber)

Country (Land)
South Korea (Südkorea)

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd.
135, Seosomun-dong, Jung-gu
Seoul 100-737
South Korea

Phone: 0822/2001-3114, 3640
Fax: 0822/2001-3777, 3778
Internet: www.koreaaero.com

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 2

Weapons (Bewaffnung): The T-50 can be fitted with an internally mounted 20 mm gun (M61).
Seven store stations for air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles or other ordnance are possible. External stores could include
   2 x Sidewinders at the wingtips
   6 x AGM-65 missiles
   5 x CBU-58
   9 x Mk.82 bombs
   3 x Mk.83/84 bombs
   9 x Mk.20 bombs
   8 x LAU-3/68 rocket launchers.
   1 – 3 external tanks (150 US gallons each), built by Sargent Fletcher

Power plant (Antrieb): 1 x General Electric F404-GE-102 with FADEC system
Thrust (Schub): 1 x 78,7 kN (17700 lbs)

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Length (Länge): 13,13 m
Height (Höhe): 4,90 m
Span (Spannweite): 9,17 m

Weights (Massen)
Empty weight (Leermasse): 6440 kg
Internal Fuel (Kraftstoff): 2205 kg
Max. external stores (max. Außenlast): 2750 kg or 4540 kg for the A-50 variant
Take-off weight (Startmasse): 8890 kg clean, 11975 kg with external stores
Maximum take-off weight (max. Startmasse): 13470 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. speed (max. Fluggeschwindigkeit): Mach 1.4
Service ceiling (Dienstgipfelhöhe): 14780 m (48500 ft)
Max. climb rate (max. Steigrate): 201 m/s
Time of climb (Steigzeit)
   To 10000 ft: 56 sec
   To 20000 ft: 74 sec
   To 30000 ft: 102 sec
Takeoff distance (Startrollstrecke): 345 m
Landing distance (Landerollstrecke): 707 m on a standard day
Range (Reichweite): 2600 km, clean, with external tanks and 10 per cent reserve
Typical mission duration (typische Missionsdauer): 146 min, with 74 min in the air work area.
g-Limits: +8/-3
Service life (Lebensdauer): 8300 h

Costs (Kosten)
At Asian Aerospace 2000, it was said that the trainer version (T-50) should sell at 18 - 20 million US-Dollars while a light-fighter variant (A-50) will cost around 22 million US-Dollars. These figures are at least four million Dollars higher as those mentioned in 1997.
Recent development cost estimates are 2 billion US-Dollars. Funded by the South Korean Government (70 per cent), Korean Aerospace (17 per cent) and Lockheed Martin (13 per cent).

Customers (Kunden)
South Korea ordered 25 of the T-50 trainers in December 2003.
The country has a firm requirement for 94 aircraft, plus maybe 100 more later on. The Golden Eagle will replace the BAE Hawk, the T-38 and the F-5B in the training syllabus and the A-37 for close air support. It is expected that further order will include 25 more T-50s and 44 A-50s.
Korean Aerospace and Lockheed Martin hoped for 600 to 800 exports, if the T-50 succeeds in replacing the T-38 at the USAF in the long term.

Competition (Konkurrenz)
EADS Mako (AT-2000)
Aermacchi M-346
Yakovlev Yak-130

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The Golden Eagle (previously KTX-2) is a new high-performance trainer and light-attack aircraft, which mainly represents F-16 technology. Two versions are planned: the T-50 as an advanced trainer and the T-30 LIFT (also dubbed the A-50 in South Korea) as a lead in fighter trainer and light combat aircraft.
The T-50 is designed to have the manoeuvrability, endurance and systems to prepare future pilots to fly next-generation fighters like the Eurofighter, F-22, Rafale or F-35 (JSF). It has enhanced synthetic training features like simulated radar, radar warning from simulated threats and simulated chaff/flare.
Korean Aerospace (a merger between Samsung, Hyundai and Daewoo aerospace interests) is the lead contractor. Lockheed Martin has a 13 per cent stake, with responsibility for the wings, as well as avionics and flight control system integration. Total US work content is given as an astonishing 55 per cent, though this is to be reduced during production.
Subsystem suppliers include
   BAE Systems
   General Dynamics
   Goodrich
   Hamilton Sundstrand
   Honeywell
   Litton
   Marion Composites
   Martin-Baker
   Messier-Dowty
   Moog
   Parker
   Raytheon
   Rockwell
   Smiths Industries Aerospace
For the combat version, an APG-67 radar from Lockheed Martin will be installed.

History (Geschichte)
Since 1992, South Korea had studied the possibility to develop a new high-performance trainer and light-attack aircraft, which could take its place on the assembly lines of Samsung after F-16 licence manufacture ends. Lockheed Martin rendered assistance as part of its Fighting Falcon offset obligations to the country.
The basic configuration was frozen in mid-1995, but due to the lack of risk-sharing partners and doubts about financial viability, later compounded by the Asian financial crisis, it was not until July 3, 1997 that the Government gave the green light to the programme. Later in the same month, Lockheed Martin signed an agreement with Samsung on the joint development and production of the KTX-2.
A full-scale development contract was signed in October 1997, with around 500 people working on the programme. On July 12 – 16, 1999, a formal preliminary design review (PDR) was held, and drawing release began in September.
Meanwhile, Samsung and Lockheed Martin formed a joint marketing team in autumn 1998, whereby the US company will work with the US government to develop potential US requirements and gain approvals for third country sales.
The outer mold line of the KTX-2 was frozen in the autumn of 1999, after which detailed design of the structure and systems was intensified.
At Asian Aerospace in February 2000, Korean Aerospace unveiled the renaming of the KTX-2 as the T-50/A-50 Golden Eagle.
A critical design review was passed July 31 – August 4, 2000, covering all aspects of the programme and leading to approval of the prototype build and test phase. Work on the centre fuselage started on July 3, with forward and aft fuselage sections being worked on from 1. August 2000.
KAI and Lockhed Martin formally established the “T-50 International” company on 10 November 2000 to conduct international marketing activities.
Final assembly at the Sachon plant started on 15 January 2001, three months ahead of schedule, when the three fuselage sections were mated. Lockheed Martin delivered the first wingset on 15 June, with engines and landing gear following soon after. Assembly was completed on 14 September.
The first T-50 Golden Eagle was rolled out in a ceremony on October 31, 2001, some seven months late. Korea's President Kim, Dae-jung served as the principal speaker at the ceremony, which was held at the KAI facility in Sachon, Republic of Korea. "Today we celebrate a major step in Korea's role in aviation history," President Kim said. "The T-50 is the first supersonic jet aircraft developed by our rapidly growing aerospace industry. This aircraft is expected to not only serve the advanced training needs of the Korean Air Force, but also a number of other major air forces around the world. We fully expect to be an exporter of advanced aerospace products."
The static test aircraft was completed in October 2001, and extensive instrumentation was then installed and checked out. Loads testing began on 2 January 2002. Test results were used to certify the flight worthiness of the aircraft and to validate the aircraft structural computer model used in the design of the airframe. For the first test case, 77 load application locations, 66 deflection measurements and approximately 2,300 strain measurements will be made on the test aircraft. The first life testing (8,334 hours) is expected to be completed in April 2003. After a thorough tear-down inspection, the test vehicle will be subjected to a second service life testing, which is expected to be completed in 2004.
The T-50 Golden Eagle successfully completed its first flight at the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) facility at Sachon on August 20, 2002, some two months late. The flight met its goals of checking air-worthiness, basic systems operation and handling qualities of the aircraft, plus the test instrumentation and telemetry. “This was a very enjoyable flight,” said Lt.Col. Cho, Gwang-Je, Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) test pilot for the historic flight. “The T-50 is very easy to fly. It has excellent stability and control in the takeoff and landing configuration, just as we expected. We completed all of our test objectives for this flight exactly as on the mission plan. I am looking forward to future flights as we expand the flight envelope. If future flights are as successful as this one, we should have a great advanced jet trainer.” Takeoff and landing were conducted at an airfield adjacent to the KAI plant at Sachon. The first flight lasted 39 minutes. The flight consisted of a military power (full power without afterburner) takeoff and climb to 7,000 feet for preliminary tests and then to 15,000 feet, the maximum altitude for this flight. The landing gear remained down for the entire flight, as planned, and a variety of maneuvers and engine transients were conducted. The maximum speed was 245 knots (calibrated air speed), or about 305 knots (true air speed). Maximum angle of attack was 13 degrees. Formation flying was practiced on the wing of an F-16 chase aircraft.
On November 8, 2002, the second T-50 Golden Eagle advanced jet trainer successfully completed its initial flight. The 47-minute sortie was conducted from KAI's facility at Sachon, South Korea. The flight met all its goals of checking airworthiness, basic systems operation and handling qualities of the aircraft. Test instrumentation and telemetry were also verified. All systems functioned properly with no anomalies. The test pilot was Lt. Col. Cho, Gwang-Je of the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), who flew the initial flight in the first T-50. Maximum conditions attained during the flight were a calibrated airspeed of 250 knots and an altitude of 15,000 feet.
By early November the flight test program had accumulated 15 flights and 14.8 flight hours, with the aircraft performing well in all areas. Also in November, the ceiling of 40000 ft was reached.
The T-50 achieved its first supersonic flight on 18 February 2003, with Mach 1.05 at 40000 ft. It was the 41st flight for prototype number 1.
On 25 April 2003, the airframe durability vehicle completed one lifetime of testing, equivalent to 8334 flight hours. Testing was then continued for a second lifetime, due to be finished in April 2004.
The 100 th flight test was completed on 28 April 2003.
The Republic of Korea Air force (ROKAF) began Initial Operational Assessment (IOA) of the T-50 on 28 July 2003. By that time total flights with two prototypes numbered around 105. The IOA was planned to take about a month, depending on the weather. Evaluations were performed by approximately five non-test pilots from the training command. The IOA was then completed on 14 August, about two weeks ahead of schedule.
On August 20, 2003, the T-50 completed 20 months of static structural testing. The testing involved loading the airframe to limit loads for five conditions to support first flight clearance, and ultimate, of 150 percent of limit loads, for 28 conditions. The loads were applied through a combination of 788 tension load paths, 132 metallic straps and fittings, and several simulated components such as landing gear, pylons and engine.
It was expected that approval for production would come in August, but this was delayed.
The Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) version of the T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic fast jet trainer made its initial flight on Aug. 29, 2003 from Sachon air base. The first flight met its goals of checking airworthiness, basic systems operation and handling qualities of the aircraft, plus the test instrumentation and telemetry. All systems functioned properly, with no anomalies. During the 41-minute flight, the test aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 22,000 feet and a maximum speed of 310 knots indicated airspeed “As expected, the T-50 LIFT aircraft performed identically with the AJT version,” said Maj. Lee, Choong Hwan, ROKAF T-50 test pilot for the first flight.
The fourth and last KAI/Lockheed Martin T-50 flight-test aircraft took to the air on September 4, 2003. This aircraft is the second T-50 Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) version, which bridges the gap between initial pilot training and operational training.
Ground gunfire testing was completed inOctober 2003. The gun is part of the fit for the T-50 LIFT trainer and the A-50 attack variant. Twelve hundred rounds were fired during two weeks of tests.
In November 2003, the defence ministry of Israel agreed to evaluate the T-50 as a possible contender for the Air Force LIFT requirement to replace the TA-4 Skyhawk.
The purchase of the first 25 T-50s by South Korea was authorised in November 2003. The agreement included authorisation to shift wing production from the USA to South Korea. On 19 December 2003, the Korean Defense Procurement Agency awarded a first production contract is for 25 Golden Eagles in the basic T-50 trainer configuration.
Radar flight testing with the APG-67(V)4 began in November 2003. About 80 flights were expected over an eight-month period with the two LIFT test aircraft.
Flight testing with captive AIM-9 air-to-air missiles was initiated on Nov. 3, 2003, and the first flight with external fuel tanks occurred on Feb. 7, 2004. Initial flights were to verify the T-50 aircraft's stability and control, flutter and handling qualities. The tanks can be jettisoned and can be carried on both the T-50 Advanced Jet Trainer and the Lead-In Fighter Trainer versions.
In February 2004, a flight-test T-50 Golden Eagle, modified with a spin recovery parachute, successfully deployed and released the device in flight. The spin chute is a safety recovery device the pilot can deploy in the event the aircraft remains uncontrollable after a departure during high angle-of-attack (AOA) testing. The aircraft was scheduled to commence high AOA flight testing in March.
As of March 2004, the four test aircraft had accumulated the following flight hours:
   Prototype 1: 167 h 42 min in 179 flights
   Prototype 2: 76 h 14 min in 77 flights
   Prototype 3: 35 h 53 min in 39 flights
   Prototype 4: 60 h 12 min in 51 flights
Maximum Mach number so far was 1.3 and maximum altitude 40000 ft.
In the spring of 2004, production deliveries were planned to start in the fourth quarter of 2005. International customers could get their aircraft “as early as late 2006”, it was claimed. Production for South Korea is expected to run to 2011

Civil | Military | Helicopters | History | Spaceflight

Last updated 8 July 2004

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