KAI's latest FA-50 concept on display at Seoul ADEX 2023.
SEONGNAM, South Korea—Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is currently conducting studies to improve the FA-50's capabilities to fulfill potential export and Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) requirements, including a three-part modification that would see the development of a single-seat FA-50.
KAI said at the Seoul ADEX 2023 airshow that the ROKAF and another unnamed export customer had joined Poland in asking for improvements to the FA-50's operational capabilities, and studies are now underway to meet these needs.
In May 2022, KAI proposed an FA-50 midlife upgrade (MLU) program tailored to ROKAF requirements, including replacing the cockpit multi-function display with the new large-area display (LAD)—used on the KF-21 Boramae fighter—which would make it similar to the Polish FA-50PL variant.
The ROKAF is considering a domestically produced active, electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for the FA-50. This would be either LIG Nex1's ESR-500A or Hanwha Systems' new LCA AESA radar, KAI said. The FA-50MLU will also integrate a South Korean-developed medium-range air-to-surface missile and a short-range air-to-air missile.
Research is also underway to increase the operational range of the FA-50 by 20%. Currently, the FA-50 has an operational range of 2,592 km (1,610 mi.) on a single 150-gal. fuel tank.
KAI is exploring how to increase the volume of the fighter's internal fuel tanks by 5% as well as developing a 300-gal. external fuel tank—although the latter option would take up space needed for the Lockheed Martin Sniper advanced targeting pod.
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