KAI T-50/FA-50

Boeing and Leonardo have declared their interest in bidding to replace the UK’s fleet of BAE Systems Hawk jet trainers, and others are expected to follow.

Europe’s last Sukhoi Su-22 ground attack aircraft have been formally withdrawn from the Polish Air Force service after 41 years in the air.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

The Philippine National Defense Department and Korea Aerospace Industries signed a contract on June 3 for the acquisition of 12 more FA-50PH light fighters.

Raytheon flew the PhantomStrike sensor for the first time on a testbed, moving the new fire control radar a step closer to launch customer Poland.

Despite continued increases to its defense spending in recent years, Malaysia’s economic and financial realities dictate a slow and steady pace to its ambitious military aircraft modernization plans.

Korea Aerospace Industries has secured a contract with the Indonesian Air Force to extend the service life of the force's KT-1B turboprop trainers.

The Philippine Air Force has grounded its entire fleet of KAI FA-50 fighters after one was lost during a night mission, killing two crew onboard.

Flight testing of LIG Nex1's ESR-500A active electronically scanned array radar with the Netherlands Aerospace Center has now begun.

A new defense market reality is emerging in the country as Tokyo seeks to increase its exports.

KAI is working to improve maintenance of the FA-50 after Poland expressed dissatisfaction with the availability of the light combat aircraft.

Korea Aerospace Industries is working toward an agreement for the co-production of aircraft components in Peru as it eyes an FA-50 export deal to the country.

Spain’s on-again, off-again efforts to pick a replacement platform for the F-5 lead-in trainer aircraft are again underway.

In response to the rapidly changing strategic environment in the region, the Royal Thai Air Force has released an updated White Paper outlining investment priorities through 2037.

Studies are underway to fulfill another unnamed customer's export requirements for the FA-50, according to a KAI update at the Seoul ADEX airshow.

Thales will be responsible for "adapting, integrating and qualifying" the Scorpion helmet-mounted display onto KAI-manufactured Polish FA-50s.

Poland is acquiring Lockheed Martin Sniper targeting pods to equip its future fleet of Korea Aerospace Industries FA-50 light combat aircraft.

Poland has begun flight testing its first Korea Aerospace Industries FA-50 fighter in-country.

Poland’s first Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 light attack aircraft has been formally rolled out ahead of first deliveries next month.

Dueling AESA options for the F/A-50 show how far the technology has come in a short amount of time, thanks to the advent of gallium nitride semiconductors.

Raytheon's PhantomStrike was one of several AESA radar sets being considered for Poland’s future FA-50PL fleet being built by KAI.

A prototype of the ESR-500A AESA radar intended to replace the the FA-50 light fighter’s EL/M-2032 radar has been revealed by LIG Nex1 and KAI.

KAI has revived its plans to develop a single-seat variant of the FA-50 light fighter and unveiled a road map for the KF-21 Block 3.

South Korea’s DAPA has unveiled a new plan to develop a 15,000-lb.-thrust-class turbofan engine as a national research and development project.

Boeing and teammates Lockheed Martin and KAI are presenting their fighter trainer solutions to the Royal Australian Air Force.