Article Posted on : - Jan 25, 2011

T-50 "Golden Eagle" Supersonic trainer jet.

SEOUL (BNS): South Korea Monday rolled out the first armed version of its T-50 supersonic trainer jet, designed to carry out a lead-in fighter training mission and light attack roles, officials said.

The TA-50 is an armed variant of the T-50, the nation's first indigenous trainer jet that has been deployed since 2005, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a statement, according to a news report by the Yonhap news agency.

The TA-50 can mount precision-guided weapons such as AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and TGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles, according to DAPA officials.

The final unit of the TA-50 will be delivered by 2012.DAPA officials refuse to confirm the total number of the TA-50s to be put into operation, citing security reasons.

T-50 "Golden Eagle" is jointly developed by Korean Aerospace Industries and Lockheed Martin.