Korea Aerospace lands deal to make fighter jets for air force

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the nation’s sole aircraft maker, said yesterday it has landed a 1.1 trillion won ($1 billion) deal to produce FA-50 fighter jets for the country’s air force.

The company said it signed a second contract with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, and needs to supply FA-50s until October 2016. The supply volume wasn’t disclosed.

The FA-50 is a light combat aircraft which was developed based on the T-50, a supersonic advanced trainer. The aircraft is able to load up to 4.5 tons of weapons, including air-to-air or air-to-surface missiles and machine guns, as well as precision guidance bombers.

This is the second deal between KAI and the nation’s weapons procurement agency regarding FA-50s. They inked the first deal, worth 700 billion won, in 2011 and KAI needs to deliver an unspecified number of FA-50s until August.