Colombian Air Force plans to induct Korean made TA-50 and FA-50 Golden Eagle jets trainer
Americas, Asia-Pacific, News May 3, 2022 1 Comment on Colombian Air Force plans to induct Korean made TA-50 and FA-50 Golden Eagle jets trainerThe Colombian Air Force has chosen a mix of TA-50 and FA-50 Golden Eagle jets to replace its Cessna A-37B Dragonfly light-attack jets.
Colombian Air Force plans to induct at least 20 new light-attack fighter jets into its aerial fleet as advanced jet trainers for air-to-air and air-to-surface combat capabilities. The project would cost the Colombian Air Force an estimated $600 million.
Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) TA-50 and FA-50 Golden Eagle supersonic advanced jet trainers are the top contenders in line to replace the Cessna A-37B Dragonfly trainer jets which retired in June 2021.
Although there has not been any official announcement made by the Air Force so far, sources have reported that negotiations are underway between South Korean aircraft manufacturer company KAI and the Colombian Air Force in order to acquire the required jets.
Several firms were shortlisted during the process including an Italian firm that offered to provide M-346. However, the Colombian government eventually chose to go with Korean-made Golden Eagle jets.
Colombian Air Force is on course to modernize its aging fleet of fighter and trainer jets. The Korean-made jets are set to replace Cessna A-37B Dragonfly twin-engine light-attack jets. Colombian Air Force had at least 7 of these aircraft that retired in June 2021. These jets were used in both counterinsurgency missions as well as tactical training. The jets were produced between 1963 and 1975 by U.S.-based Cessna Aviation Company.
The Golden Eagle jets were developed in collaboration with Lockheed Martin and Korean Aviation Industries in the 1990s. The first batch of Golden Eagle jets came into service in 2005. TA-50 Golden Eagle jet is South Korea’s first indigenously produced supersonic aircraft and one of the world’s few supersonic trainer jets. Other variants of KAI Golden Eagle advanced trainer jets include FA-50, T-50, and F-50 single-seat multi-role fighter jets.
According to Korea Aerospace Industries, “TA-50 is the Lead in Fighter Trainer aircraft which performs tactics education and training necessary for battlefield operation, including air-to-air/air-to-ground firing drills following the advance training course of T-50 under the Pilot Training Program of the ROKAF. KAI developed the TA-50 with radar and various armament systems.”
KAI Golden Eagle jets are primarily used by Indonesia, the Philippines, Iraq, and Thailand, while U.S. Air Force also considered acquiring KAI Golden Eagle jets for its T-X trainer program, however, the deal did not go through.
Apart from Colombian many other countries are considering purchasing the Korean-made multi-role light-attack fighter jets to be used for training and counterinsurgency purposes. The list includes Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Spain, Poland, and the United Arab Emirates.
Apart from being used as trainer jets for the Colombian Air Force, the Golden Eagle TA-50 and FA-50 jets are also expected to take up the role of Kifr multi-role combat aircraft. The Israel Aircraft Industries’ Kfir jets are top operational fighters among many South American countries. However, the increasing maintenance and operational cost have led many countries to limit the use of Kfir jets.
South Korea and Colombia share a long history of defense collaboration. Colombia was one of the countries that contributed with its troops through the United Nations program during the Korean War. Colombian Navy also ordered South Korean SSM-700K anti-ship missiles to upgrade its German-made Padilla-class ships in 2012.
Air Force Aircraft Americas Asia Asia-Pacific Colombia Defense FA-50 Fighter Jet Latin America South Korea U.S.
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[…] KAI also signed a $600 million dollar deal with Colombia to provide 20 new light-attack fighter jets to the Colombian Air […]