At one time, only Boeing looked to be going for a ‘clean-sheet’ design for T-X. Now, Lockheed Martin could be the sole bidder set to offer an off-the-shelf product, in the shape of its T-50A.
LOCKHEED MARTIN TOYED with, and abandoned, talk of a ‘clean-sheet’ approach to T-X. It is now teamed with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and will submit a proposal based on the T-50A aircraft. Two of the modified singleengine T-50As are already flying as part of the contractor team’s efforts, with one at the manufacturer’s new final assembly and check-out facility (FACO) in Greenville, South Carolina.
With great performance and a proven track record in service, the T-50A looks to be a strong contender for T-X. Speaking to Combat Aircraft, T-50A chief test pilot Mark ‘Red’ Ward said: ‘We know the performance and what it can do.’
The T-50A builds on the joint Lockheed Martin/KAI T-50 Golden Eagle program that has delivered 102 aircraft of all versions to the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF), for which additional FA-50s are on order. Export orders have typically encompassed derivatives of the TA-50 lead-in fighter trainer, and originate from the Indonesian Air Force, which ordered 16 TA-50s under the specific d…
