Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

AF completes domestic production of trainer models

KT-100 deploys introductory course of flight

Use of a domestic aircraft for all pilot training courses

Air Force Chief of Staff, Jung Kyung-doo, commanded the flight in person

Force integration of an FA-50 fighter cruising along without a hitch

The era of self-protection of territorial airspace begins

The Air Force (AF) has established its ‘Korean flight training system’ using domestic aircraft for all pilot training courses.

Organized by the AF Chief of Staff, Jung Kyung-doo, the AF held an event for force integration of a KT-100 plane, which will be used for an introductory flight course, replacing the Russian T-103 aircraft. This event, which featured around 80 prominent guests at the 55th Education Air Group, Air Force Academy, was held on May 11.

The pilot training courses consisted of 3 levels: introductory, basic, and advanced. Pilots who complete Lead-In Fighter Training (LIFT) or Combat Readiness Training (CRT) can complete missions on the front line. Through this force integration, the domestic aircraft KT-100 will be used for the introductory course, which will be followed by the basic and advanced courses that will use the KT-1 and T-50, respectively.

The KT-100 is an improved version of the Naraon KC-100, a small aircraft developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) as part of their research and development program funded by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport. The Air Force is scheduled to introduce 20 KT-100s, stage by stage, by this December, and they will be operated in earnest in the introductory flight course in 2017.

The Korean flight training system guarantees that student pilots will face circumstances that will enable them to focus on tactical training by providing more familiar and continuous flying environments. Moreover, the domestic aircraft can be quickly and easily maintained, and can receive technical support from Korean companies, which will ultimately enhance a number of performance metrics. For example, the operating ratio of the aircraft will be increased, its cost of logistics support will be reduced, and so on.

The AF also expects to integrate the KT-100 into its force, which will be realized through civil-government-military cooperation. This process will involve the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), etc, and will promote economic growth by creating export bases for the defense industry, promoting the domestic aviation industry, activating the creative economy, creating employment opportunities, and so on.

Meanwhile, the implementation of the force integration project for the very first domestic fighter, FA-50, will mean that we are finally in an era of self-protection, in which we will finally be able to defend our territorial airspace with our domestic aircraft, from trainer to fighter. Since the AF has  the first FA-50 unit, the 103rd Fighter Squadron of the 8th Fighter Wing integrated into force, in 2014, it will additionally integrate 2 FA-50 fighter squadrons into force in both the first and the latter half of the year.

Prior to the event, Chief Jung boarded the KT-100 and directed the flight in person to assess the performance and safety of the aircraft. In his opening remarks, he said, “We can cultivate elite warriors by training pilots - our main military strength in maintaining national security - with our own aircraft through the force integration of KT-100, an introductory trainer. It is also meaningful to Korea as we are able to showcase our aircraft development technology to the world, while promoting national interests as well.”

By Sang-Yun, Kim < ksy0609@dema.mil.kr >
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