Will KAI Build a Single-Seat Fighter F-50?
Investing $29.7 million in FA-50 Single-Seater Development
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) announced at a board meeting held on the 7th that it will invest $29.7 million in developing a single-seat FA-50 light attack aircraft.
KAI plans to expand its portfolio by developing a single-seat version of the FA-50, KAI’s flagship light attack aircraft, in response to the demands of the global multirole fighter market.
The FA-50 has so far been produced only in a two-seat version because it is a derivative of the T-50 advanced trainer, which allows an instructor and a student pilot to fly together.
Initially, the T-50 was planned to be developed into three different versions: a trainer, an attacker, and a fighter. However, the attacker and fighter were not created separately due to concerns about cost-effectiveness. Instead, a multirole fighter known as the FA-50 was developed, which retained the basic form of the two-seater T-50.
Fighter aircraft are typically designed to be operated by only one pilot, but there are cases where they can be operated by two pilots, depending on the mission’s complexity. In such cases, the front seat is used for piloting, while the back seat is used for operating weapons and radar. However, due to technological advancements, pilots can now undertake more tasks alone, and the current trend is to improve the aircraft’s combat capabilities, such as their armament and operational range.
Although the FA-50 is a two-seater, it can be operated by a single pilot. The efficiency is lower when our Air Force operates it like a single-seater with empty rear seats.
KAI has consistently reviewed the development of the FA-50 single-seater to enhance its export competitiveness. KAI President Kang Goo Young has continuously expressed his will to develop it through defense seminars and press conferences.
The development of the FA-50 single-seater has been discussed several times, and the most likely plan is to increase the range by adding a fuel tank in the rear seat.
A KAI official said, “There is a steady demand for single-seaters, especially from the existing operating countries. If we can achieve more than 50% market share in the single-seater market, estimated to be about 450 units, we could potentially export more than 300 units.”
One of the Four Musketeers of Domestic Weapons for Export to Poland is the FA-50. It has been exported to 138 units worldwide and operates in 5 countries, including South Korea.
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