KAI T-50 Golden Eagle

Full Specifications

KAI T-50 Golden Eagle Supersonic Trainer Jet

The KAI T-50 Golden Eagle is one of the most successful modern advanced trainer aircraft on the global market. Designed to prepare pilots for front-line fighters such as the F-16 and F-35, the T-50 combines fighter-like performance with lower operating costs. It is also available in armed variants including the TA-50 and FA-50, giving air forces a flexible platform for training, light attack, and air defense missions.

Manufacturer and Origin

The aircraft is built by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in partnership with Lockheed Martin. Developed in South Korea, the T-50 became the nation’s first indigenous supersonic aircraft and marked a major step in Seoul’s aerospace industry. First flight took place in 2002, with service entry beginning in 2005.

Speed, Range, and Performance

Powered by one General Electric F404 afterburning turbofan engine, the T-50 reaches a maximum speed of Mach 1.5. It has a range of about 1,851 km (1,150 miles), service ceiling of 55,000 ft, and high maneuverability with +8 g limits. These features allow trainee pilots to experience near-fighter performance in a safer, more affordable platform.

Weapons and Technology

Combat variants can carry a 20 mm cannon, AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, AGM-65 Maverick missiles, precision bombs, rockets, and external fuel tanks. Avionics vary by model but include multi-mode radar, digital cockpit displays, fly-by-wire controls, datalink capability, and modern navigation systems. Some newer variants offer AESA radar upgrades.

Cost / Price

Estimated unit cost varies by version. Basic trainer models are generally priced around $25 million to $30 million, while armed FA-50 variants can exceed $35 million depending on configuration, radar, and weapons package.

Why It Matters for U.S. Readers

The T-50 family has drawn attention in the United States for pilot training competitions and as a lower-cost light combat aircraft option for allied nations. It remains a strong competitor in the global trainer market.