Korea completes delivery of 16 T-50 trainers to Indonesia

South Korea has completed the delivery of 16 T-50 supersonic trainer jets built by the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to Indonesia. After signing a $400million deal in 2011, KAI said it delivered 16 T-50i planes between September and January using ferry flights via Taiwan and the Philippines.

With sales of T-50s to Indonesia, South Korea has become the world’s sixth supersonic trainer jet exporter. Indonesia is the biggest Southeast Asian buyer for South Korea’s defence industry, buying Koreanmade submarines and trainer jets.

The KFX project aims to build F-16 class fighter jets to replace the Air Force’s ageing fleet of F-4 and F-5 fighter planes, while eyeing the overseas market with homegrown aircraft. SP