Article Posted on : - Jun 10, 2011

The TA-50 combat trainers of S Korean Air Force.

SEOUL (BNS): The South Korean Air Force has, for the first time, unveiled its new TA-50 supersonic combat trainer jets before the media last week.

The trainer jets moved toward a runway to take off on at an air base in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang on June 2.

The new aircraft, which is an armed variant of the indigenously-built T-50 ‘Golden Eagle’ supersonic trainer, was rolled out in January this year.

It has since been deployed with the country's air force in phases.

The TA-50 has been designed to carry out a lead-in fighter training mission and light attack roles. It can mount precision-guided weapons such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and TGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles.

The Korean Air Force said it plans to deploy some 200 of the new aircraft by the first half of next year.

South Korea had unveiled the T-50 Golden Eagle, jointly developed by Korea Aerospace Industries and US’s Lockheed Martin, in 2005, making the country world's 12th supersonic jet producer.