. Korea aircraft maker goes all out to win US trainer jet program

By Park Sae-jin Posted : January 3, 2017, 17:39 Updated : January 3, 2017, 17:39

[Courtesy of Lockheed Martin]


The head of South Korea's sole aircraft maker, Korea Aerospace Industries, put his job at stake saying he would step down if he failed to win a US military program to acquire trainer jets.

The pledge from company head Ha Sung-yong underlines South Korea's campaign to shore up its charges into the global warplane market by pushing for exports of its home-made T-50 supersonic jet trainer.

"I will step down if I fail to win an APT order," Ha told reporters, referring to KAI's bid for the replacement project of the US Advanced Pilot Training, a military procurement program worth 17 trillion won (14 billion US dollars). The winner will be selected at the end of this year, and Ha said the deal would lead to brisk T-50 exports to other countries.

US defense giant Lockheed Martin offers an upgraded version of the T-50 developed jointly with KAI for the US program to purchase as many as 350 two-seat trainer jets to replace its Northrop T-38 Talon. The winner will likely be set up as the dominant producer of training aircraft for the next two decades.
 
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