Jon Lake looks at Korean Aerospace Industries T-50 Golden Eagle and its many derivatives. It has been very popular in recent years with Asian customers, but the programme recently received a big boost when Poland ordered 48
With its MiG-29s being transferred to Ukraine, Poland faces a possible reduction in its fast jet strength. Fortunately, plans to replace the MiGs (and a handful of remaining Su-22s) are well advanced, with the first 12 of 48 Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50s now expected to be delivered between August and December this year. On March 9 this year, KAI released the first photos of a number of FA-50GF aircraft, including the complete and painted 5002, and 5009 still in primer on the final assembly line; 5002 was flying by April 1.