[Courtesy of KAI]
SEOUL -- South Korea's sole aircraft maker has secured a deal worth $360 million from the Iraqi government to provide logistics support, pilot flight training and maintenance education for light attack and training aircraft.
With technology from U.S. partner Lockheed Martin, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) produced South Korea's first supersonic trainer, T-50, which has been developed into aerobatic and combat variants such as FA-50. KAI has exported or secured orders to export T-50 trainers and light combat aircraft to countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Iraq.
T-50IQ is an Iraqi air force version of T-50's light attack variant. Iraq has purchased 24 T-50IQ2s primarily as a lead-in fighter trainer for F-16 fighters. In a regulatory filing on November 8, KAI said it has signed a three-year contract to provide maintenance, logistics support, and a management program while supporting education and training for pilots and technicians.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
