Lockheed says T-50 well suited for USAF’s next generation trainer needs

Lockheed Martin believes its T-50 jet trainer is well-suited to meet the US Air Force's requirement for a next-generation replacement for the Northrop T-38C Talon.

After seeing a set of draft key performance parameters (KPP) for what the USAF hopes field in the T-X trainer, Mike Griswold, Lockheed's business development director for the T-50, expressed confidence that the company's aircraft will meet the service's requirements.

"There is nothing in here that presents a problem for the T-50," Griswold says. "We designed this aircraft starting about 10 years ago specifically as the T-38 replacement knowing this day would come."

Lockheed believes that the USAF will release a request for proposal in late 2013 or early 2014, but how the programme proceeds is largely dependent on the health of the US defence budget. Griswold estimates that the air force could buy as many as 350 jets to replace the T-38 fleet. If support aircraft such as "aggressor" T-38s used to help train Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor pilots at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, or Tyndall AFB, Florida, are included, that number could increase somewhat.

The T-50, which is currently in service with the South Korean air force, would have to have its cockpit systems tailored to the USAF's requirements. The service wants the aircraft to have embedded training systems that would simulate radars and electronic warfare systems that resemble those found on the F-22 and Lockheed F-35 stealth fighters. "We've been working on that for some time because we've always known that would be a requirement f

Sukhoi Company Completes T-50’s Initial Approach Trials to a Refuelling Aircraft

Sukhoi Company has completed trials of T-50’s (5th generation fighter aircraft PAK FA) initial approach to a flight refuelling aircraft.

Aircraft T-50-2 made nine approaches to an Ilyushin Il-78 tanker accompanied by a Su-25UB aircraft.

T-50-2, Sukhoi's second prototype is undergoing a range of flight trials to test the new plane's flight envelope in subsonic and supersonic regimes and in different configurations.

The first prototype, T-50-1, is being prepared for a flight test program involving flight at super-critical angles of attack and super-maneouvrability. Flight tests of the T-50-3 with a unique on-board active phased array

Sukhoi T-50 Stealth Fighter Completes Tanker Plug Trial

Russian fighter maker Sukhoi's T-50 fifth-generation stealth fighter has completed initial approach trials to a flight refuelling aircraft, the company said on Tuesday.

The aircraft, T-50-2, made approaches to an Il-78 tanker in company with a Su-25UB trainer/strike aircraft.
The second prototype, T-50-2 is currently conducting a range of flight trials to test the new plane's flight envelope in subsonic and supersonic regimes and in different configurations.
The first prototype, T-50-1, is undertaking preparation for a flight test program involving flight at super-critical angles of attack and super-maneuverability.
In August, T-50-3 will start full tests of the aircraft's new active phased-array radar system and avionics, which the company says has already shown impressive results in air-to-air and air-to-ground tests.

Sukhoi begins testing onboard radar system for T-50 aircraft

The Sukhoi Company began flight tests of the 5^th generation fighter aircraft (PAK FA or T-50) with a unique on-board active phased array radar system. In the course of the ground and flight tests of the
 T-50-3 prototype the radar “air-to-air” and “air-to-surface” test modes in the first experiments showed a stable and effective performance comparable with the most advanced existing radar systems.

The further development of these capabilities was confirmed. The optical channels tests have begun.
The radar has been developed by the Moscow-based Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design using locally made elements of nanotechnology. It incorporates advanced antenna systems technology with electronically controlled beam.

Initial tests of the radar on the T-50

The Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi announced on August 8 have begun trials of a single radar Active Phased Array (AESA) on the fifth generation fighter T-50 (PAK-FA).

"In initial testing ground and airborne radar using an array antenna with phase control installed on a prototype T-50-3 gave strong performances in the plans' air to air" and "air-surface ". These performances are worthy of the best existing aircraft, "Sukhoi said in a statement.

Sh121 radar was developed by the Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute based in Moscow. It uses elements of nanotechnology manufactured locally and incorporates an antenna with the technology of electron beam systems controlled on the basis of the program AFAR.

South Korean Jets For The Philippines

The Philippines has ordered twelve South Korean TA-50 armed trainers for $49 million each. The price includes training, spare parts and some tech support. The single engine, two seat aircraft is intended to restore jet combat aircraft capability in the Philippines Air Force. The first TA-50 will be delivered next year, and the last of them the year after that.

The TA-50 is the combat version of the South Korean designed and manufactured T-50 jet trainer. This aircraft was developed over the last decade, at a cost of over two billion dollars. The first test flight of the T-50 took place in 2002. The 13 ton aircraft is actually a light fighter and can fly at supersonic speeds. With some added equipment (radars and fire control), the T-50 becomes the TA-50, a combat aircraft. This version carries a 20mm auto-cannon and up to 4.5 tons of smart bombs and missiles. The T-50 can stay in the air about four hours per sortie and has a service life of 8,000 flight hours.
Seven years ago the Philippines removed from service its eight F-5 fighters. These 1960s era aircraft were not much of a match for more recent warplanes and were expensive to maintain. In the meantime, the Philippines used armed trainer aircraft for strikes against Moslem and communist rebels.
Four years ago the Philippines Air Force bought another 18 Italian SF-260 trainers, for about $812,000 each. The SF-260 has been around for over 40 years and about a thousand have been produced. This is a 1.1 ton, two seat aircraft, with a max speed of 347 kilometers an hour, and an endurance of about six hours. It can be equipped to carry a 100-150 kg (220-330 pounds) of weapons and be used as a light attack aircraft. The Philippines had previously bought 64 SF-260s and has been using them for decades. Because of operational losses and wear-and-tear few are still in service.
Back then things were pretty desperate, or at least more desperate than usual, for the air force. The rising price of oil has forced sharp cutbacks in maritime patrol flights by its five Italian made S211 jet trainers. These five aircraft also served as the only fighter aircraft the Philippines had. The Philippines bought more helicopters, which were very useful in fighting Moslem and communist rebels. The Philippines originally bought 25 S211s in the 1980s but due to accidents and lack of maintenance only about five were available for service most of the time.
The 2.7 ton S211s have a max speed of 665 kilometers an hour and can stay in the air for about five hours per sortie. The S211s were not really doing much with the maritime reconnaissance flights, as the aircraft lacked search radar and depended on the eyes of the two pilots to spot anything. The SF-260s replaced the remaining S211s.

Philippine Air Force to Acquire 12 Jet Fighters from Korea

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said they will be acquiring fighter jets in the next two years.

Twelve surface attack aircraft lead-in fighters or TA-50s from South Korea are expected to be delivered by 2013.

Each jet costs P1.25 billion for a total of P25 billion for the dozen jets.

The TA-50 is a supersonic aircraft that requires more experienced pilots.

Authorities said bulk of the P70 billion allocated for the modernization of the Armed Forces under the Aquino administration will go to the Air Force.

“Dati hindi natin pinapansin ang territorial defense dahil wala nga tayong capability gaya ngayon. ‘Yung  bangka ‘yung atin, ‘yung kalaban natin napakalaking platform. Ngayon, tumaas ang rating ng problema natin sa territorial defense. Hindi pala natin pwedeng isantabi,” said Defense Sec. Voltaire Gazmin.

The Air Force currently has two trainer jets, which are now nearly 25 years old.

The S-211s were originally meant for training purposes but the military was forced to use them in actual operations.

The PAF admits that this is the current image of the air power of the Philippines, which has been left behind by its neighbors.

The country's lone fighter jet, an F-5, was sidelined in 2005 and has yet to be replaced.

“At that time, the leadership decided that we didn’t need this because there's no threat in that area kaya nag-concentrate tayo sa mga ginagamit nating aircraft para sa internal security operations,” said Col. Miguel Ernesto Okol, spokesman of the PAF.

But the current tensions at the Scarborough Shoal have placed a spotlight on the country's air inferiority.

Last week, a suspected Chinese fighter jet flew over the disputed shoal.

Gazmin says President Aquino is serious in beefing up the military so as not to be ignored by foreign powers

Korea Aerospace Industries T 50 aircraft

The T-50 was developed by Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd., with cooperation and global marketing support from Lockheed Martin. Both firms were aware that many training aircraft fleets are aging, even as higher-performance fighters demand trainer aircraft that can keep up. The Korean government needed a fleet of trainers, and saw an opportunity to give their aerospace sector a strong boost in the process. Total investment in the T-50’s RDT&E program amounted to more than $2 billion: 70% from the Korean government, 17% from KAI, and 13% from Lockheed Martin.

With a length of 43 feet and a wingspan of 30 feet, the 2-seat T-50 is about 4 feet shorter than the F-16; overall, it’s only about 80% of the F-16’s size. The relative size of the control surfaces and tails are larger, however, to improve handling characteristics at lower speeds and make the aircraft easier to land. Larger landing gear is also fitted, to absorb harder landings, which is to be expected from student pilots. Its form’s resemblances to Lockheed Martin’s F-16 are suggestive, and include the blended mid-set wing, complete with leading-edge root extensions and rear ‘shelf’ fairings ending in F-16-style split airbrakes.

KAI T-50 Golden Eagle

The T-50 Golden Eagle is a family of South Korean supersonic advanced trainer and multirole fighters, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries beginning in the late 1990s. The T-50 is the first indigenous South Korean supersonic aircraft and one of the only supersonic trainer in the world. It took its first flight in 2002 and went active duty with the Republic of Korea Air Force in 2005.

 The T-50 advanced trainer developed into acrobatic and combat variants, namely the T-50B, TA-50 and FA-50. Ten T-50B to serve with the Air Force aerobatics team, South Korea. In 2011 was the first squadron of the TA-50, T-50 light attack variant is, operational. The first flight of the FA-50, T-50's multirole fighter version with similar capabilities for KF-16, also continued in 2011. First FA-50 production for 60 aircraft starting in 2013 to 2016.
As of 2011, sixteen TA-50 light attack variants of the family has been exported to Indonesia, and additional export orders are pursued in countries such as Iraq, Israel, Poland, the Philippines, and Spain. T-50 is also marketed as a candidate for the TX program of the United States and the United States Air Force's next-generation advanced trainer. The T-50 is the proposed basis for the F-50 next-generation indigenous fighter.

 The T-50 program was originally designed for an indigenous trainer aircraft capable of supersonic flight to develop, and train pilots to prepare for the KF-16 and F-15K to replace coaches such as T-38 and A -37 which was in service with the Republic of Korea Air Force. Prior South Korean aircraft programs, the propeller-driven basic trainer KT-one produced by Daewoo Aerospace (now part of KAI), and license manufactured KF-16. In general, the T-50 series of aircraft similar to the KF-16 in configuration.

 The mother program, codenamed KTX-2, began in 1992, but the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs KTX-2 suspended in 1995 due to financial constraints. The basic design of the aircraft was established in 1999. The development of the aircraft was funded by Lockheed Martin 13%, 17% by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), and 70% by the government of South Korea.

The aircraft was formally designated as T-50 Golden Eagle in February 2000. The T-50A designation is reserved by the U.S. military to avoid inadvertently assigned to another aircraft model. Final assembly of the first T-50 took place between January 15 and September 14, 2001.  The first flight of the T-50 took place in August 2002 and the first operational assessment from July 28 to August 14, 2003. KAI and Lockheed Martin are currently pursuing a joint marketing program for the T-50 variant at international level. The South Korean Air Force placed a production contract for 25 T-50s in December 2003, with planes scheduled to be delivered between 2005 and 2009. Original T-50 equipped with the AN/PG-67 (V) 4 radar from Lockheed Martin.

 he T-50 Golden Eagle design is largely derived from the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon, and they have much in common: use of a single motor, speed, size, cost and range of weapons. Previous techniques KAI's experience in producing the license KF-16 has benefited significantly in the T-50 design.

The trainer can carry two pilots in tandem seating. The high-mounted hood developed by Hankuk Fiber is used with stretched acrylic, which the pilots with good visibility, and is tested to the hood with a ballistic protection against 4-lb objects affects 400 knots to offer. The height limit is 14,600 meters (48,000 ft), and the hull is designed to provide 8000 hours of service. There are seven internal fuel tanks with a capacity of 2,655 liters (701 U.S. gal), five in the trunk and two in the wings. An additional 1710 liters (452 ​​U.S. gal) of fuel can be performed in the three external fuel tanks.

The T-50 Golden Eagle uses a General Electric F404-102 turbofan engine produced under license by Samsung Techwin, upgraded with a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system jointly developed by General Electric and Korea Aerospace Industries. The engine consists of three-staged fans, seven axial stage arrangement, and an afterburner. The aircraft has a maximum speed of Mach 1.4-1.5. The engine delivers a maximum of 78.7 kN (17,700 lbf) of thrust with afterburner. The General Electric F414 engine has been proposed as the new engine for the T-50 family, but also Rolls Royce EJ200 for better compatibility with the European air forces. Both engines deliver more thrust compared to the F404.

The T-50's central processing unit and the operating system developed by MDS technology. [40] The T-50's avionics system is the first and only real-time operating system developed by an Asian company, and receives the DO-178B certification. Samsung Thales and LIG Nex1 are the main avionics and electronic warfare equipment developer for T-50 and its variants. Other South Korean companies such DoDAAM Systems and Aero Master are responsible for the secondary of the aircraft avionics, including store management computers, avionics test equipment, flight data recorders, portable maintenance aids, data analysis software, post-flight data processing system, and aircraft structure and engine management software.

Hanwha provides the mechanical components for the operating system, and WIA provides the base. The T-50 is equipped with a Honeywell H-764G embedded global positioning / inertial navigation system and HG9550 radar altimeter. The aircraft is the first coach of the digital fly-by-wire control interface (triple redundant) function. The cockpit panels, switches and joysticks are produced by the South Korean FirsTec and Sungjin Techwin.

TA-50 mounts a General Dynamics A-50 20 mm gun internally behind the cockpit. The gun is a three-barreled version of the M61 Vulcan, with 205 rounds of link less ammunition. AIM-9 Sidewinders can be connected to each wingtip rails, and additional weapons can be mounted under wing hard points. Compatible air-ground weapons are the AGM-65 Maverick missiles, Hydra 70 rocket launchers and LOGIR, CBU-58 and Mk-20 cluster bombs, and Mk-82, -83, -84, and general purpose bombs.

FA-50 can be externally provided with Rafael's Sky Shield LITE NING ECM pods and targeting pods to further improve the fighter electronic warfare and targeting capabilities. Other improved weapon systems over TA-50 are multifunctional SPICE guidance kits, Textron Sensor Fuzed Weapon with CBU-97/105 WCMD tail kits, JDAM-ER and JDAM for more extensive air-ground operations, and AIM-120 missiles for BVR air to air operations. FA-50 has provisions for but not yet integrated, Python and Derby missiles, also manufactured by Rafael.

General characteristics
Crew: 2 
Length: 12.98 m (42 ft 7 in) 
Wingspan: 9.17 m (30 ft 1 in) 
Height: 4.78 m (15 ft 8.25 in) 
Empty weight: 6,450 kg (14,200 pounds)
Max takeoff weight: 13,500 kg (29,700 pounds) 
Powerplant: 1 × General Electric F404 afterburning turbofan
Dry thrust: 53.07 kN (11,925 lbf)
Thrust with afterburner: 78.7 kN (17,700 lbf)

Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 1.4 ~ 1.5
Range: 1.851 km (1.150 mi) 
Ceiling: 16,760 m (55,000 ft) 
Thrust / weight: 0.96Max g limit: -3 g / 8 g

Weaponry 
Guns: 1 × 20 mm (0.787 in) 
General Dynamics A-50 three-barreled rotary cannon 
Hard Points: Total: 7 
Rockets: Hydra 70, LOGIR 
Rockets:Air-to-air: AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM. 
Air-ground: AGM-65 Maverick
Bombs: Mk 82, Mk 83 and Mk 84 general purpose bombs with SPICE, JDAM or JDAM-ER guidance kits; CBU-97/105 sensor fuzed weapons, laser guided bombs

Chinese j-20 black eagle US F-22 Sukhoi T-50 Stealth Fighters

Russian Air Force's PAK-FA (T-50) 2nd prototype makes 1st flight

Indian Air Force is also a partner in similar project with Sukhoi for FGFA and will have this weapon systems soon

Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA and Su 47 Berkut

T50 - Russia + India - Russian Stealth Fighter (PAK FA) Footage