T-50 Golden Eagle

KAI T-50 Golden Eagle

The KAI T-50 Golden Eagle is a South Korean supersonic advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in collaboration with Lockheed Martin. It is South Korea's first indigenous supersonic aircraft and one of the few supersonic trainers in the world.

Features of T-50 Golden Eagle:

Speed: Can reach 1,837 km/h (Mach 1.5).

Armament: Equipped with a 20mm M197 Gatling gun, air-to-air missiles like AIM-9 Sidewinder, and various bombs.

Operators: Used by South Korea, Iraq, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Poland, and Malaysia.

Variants: Includes the TA-50 (light attack), FA-50 (light fighter), and T-50B (aerobatic version).

The aircraft was designed to train pilots for advanced fighters like the F-16, F-22, and F-35. It has been widely exported and continues to be a key asset for multiple air forces worldwide.

The T-50 Golden Eagle stands out among trainer jets due to its supersonic capability, making it one of the few advanced trainers that can reach speeds of Mach 1.5. Here’s how it compares to some other popular trainer aircraft:

T-50 vs Yakovlev Yak-130 (Russia)

• Speed: T-50 is supersonic, while the Yak-130 is subsonic.
• Combat Capability: Both can serve as light attack aircraft, but the T-50 has a higher payload capacity.
• Training Role: Yak-130 is designed to simulate Russian 4th and 5th generation fighters, while the T-50 is optimized for Western aircraft like the F-16 and F-35.

T-50 vs BAE Hawk (UK)

• Speed: The Hawk is subsonic, whereas the T-50 is supersonic.
• Armament: The Hawk can carry air-to-ground weapons, but the T-50 has a more advanced radar and weapons suite.
• Operators: The Hawk has been widely used by European and Commonwealth nations, while the T-50 is popular in Asia and the Middle East.

T-50 vs M-346 Master (Italy)

• Speed: The M-346 is subsonic, while the T-50 is supersonic.
• Avionics: Both aircraft feature modern glass cockpits, but the T-50 has Lockheed Martin avionics, making it more compatible with Western fighter jets.
• Combat Role: The M-346 is primarily a trainer, while the T-50 has combat-ready variants like the FA-50.

Overall, the T-50 Golden Eagle is one of the most advanced trainer jets available, offering supersonic speed, modern avionics, and combat capability, making it a strong choice for air forces transitioning to high-performance fighters.

The T-50 Golden Eagle has several variants, each designed for specific roles:

• T-50 – The basic advanced jet trainer, used primarily for pilot training.
• T-50B – A specialized version for the South Korean Air Force’s aerobatic team, the Black Eagles.
• TA-50 – A lead-in fighter trainer with combat capabilities, including weapons and radar.
• FA-50 – The most advanced variant, designed for multirole combat operations, featuring enhanced avionics and weapon systems.
• FA-50 Block 20 – An upgraded version with improved radar, weapons, and extended capabilities.

These variants allow the T-50 family to serve both training and combat roles, making it a versatile aircraft for multiple air forces worldwide.

the technical specifications of the KAI T-50 Golden Eagle:

T-50_Golden_Eagle,_South_Korea

Technical Information

• Manufacturer: Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) & Lockheed Martin
• Role: Advanced jet trainer / Light combat aircraft
• Crew: 2 (pilot & instructor)
• Length: 13.14 meters
• Wingspan: 9.45 meters
• Height: 4.94 meters
• Max Takeoff Weight: 12,300 kg

Performance

• Max Speed: Mach 1.5 (1,837 km/h)
• Range: 1,850 km
• Service Ceiling: 48,000 feet
• Rate of Climb: 39,000 feet per minute

Powerplant

• Engine: 1 × General Electric F404-102 turbofan
• Thrust: 17,700 lbf (with afterburner)

Avionics & Systems

• Radar: EL/M-2032 or AESA radar (FA-50 variant)
• Fly-by-Wire: Digital fly-by-wire system
• Cockpit: Glass cockpit with multifunction displays
• Navigation: Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation System (EGI)

Weapon system (Combat Variants)

• Gun: 1 × 20mm M197 Gatling gun
• Missiles: AIM-9 Sidewinder, AGM-65 Maverick, air-to-air & air-to-ground missiles
• Bombs: Precision-guided bombs, general-purpose bombs
• Hardpoints: 7 (for weapons & external fuel tanks)

The T-50 Golden Eagle is a highly capable supersonic trainer that also serves as a light combat aircraft in its FA-50 variant. It is widely used by multiple air forces for pilot training and combat missions