S. Korea rolls out military trainer aircraft for Turkey

SACHEON, South Korea, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea rolled out Wednesday its
first military trainer aircraft that will be exported to Turkey, a
government-invested aerospace company said.
The turboprop aircraft used to train air force pilots incorporates operational
requirements requested by Ankara, the Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) said.

The plane will be exported after it receives the necessary certification from the
Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
The Turkish KT-1 planes have "digitalized" cockpits, advanced control and
improved air supply systems for the two pilots, the company based 437km southeast
of Seoul said.
Seoul secured an order for 40 KT-1s from Turkey in August 2007 in the second
overseas order for the locally built basic trainer following the 12 exported to
Indonesia as of 2005.
KAI said the latest order from Turkey could fuel further export orders, which can
give a boost to the local aerospace industry.
The KT-1, made in cooperation with the Agency for Defense Development, flew its
first flight in the early 1990s. There are 85 such aircraft in service with the
South Korean Air Force.
It has a maximum speed of 574km per hour and can reach an attitude of 11,000m,
with engineers having developed a forward air control version that can be armed
with weapons.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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