The Kai FA-50 is a light combat aircraft developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) based on the T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic trainer. It is one of the world’s most advanced supersonic trainer and light combat aircraft and has been a highly successful export product for South Korea. The Kai FA-50 fills the capability gap between trainers and high-end multirole fighters, providing an affordable multirole platform for air forces that do not require the complexity or costs associated with operating high-performance jets.
Kai FA-50 design and capabilities
The Kai FA-50 has its origins in the T-50 Golden Eagle, which was developed as a supersonic trainer to replace Korea’s aging jet trainer fleet. The Golden Eagle first flew in 2002 and entered service with the Republic of Korea Air Force in 2005. It has an excellent safety record and over 150 Golden Eagles have been produced to date for the ROKAF and other air forces.
Building on the successful T-50 trainer, KAI then developed the FA-50 fighter attack variant, equipping it with strengthened wings, enhanced avionics and weapons capabilities. The company invested $200 million into the fighter program and the first prototype FA-50 flew in 2011. The FA-50 entered service with the ROKAF in 2013.
The FA-50 can fly at a maximum speed of Mach 1.5 and has a combat radius of 550 km. It carries an internal three-barrel 20mm Gatling-type cannon in the port wingroot and can carry up to 3,700 kg of weapons on seven external hardpoints, including AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles, guided and unguided bombs, rocket pods and gun pods. It is also equipped with an Elta EL/M-2032 mechanically scanned pulse-Doppler radar and can carry an external targeting pod for guided munitions.
The FA-50 has a digital glass cockpit with a head-up display (HUD) and hands-on throttle and stick (HOTAS) controls. It can also perform airborne forward air control roles by carrying a L3 Wescam MX-15 electro-optical turret.
Kai FA-50 orders and operators
The Kai FA-50 has proven very popular on the export market, with over 100 aircraft ordered by 6 air forces:
- Republic of Korea Air Force – 60
- Iraqi Air Force – 24
- Philippine Air Force – 12
- Indonesian Air Force – 16
- Royal Thai Air Force – 4 (with 12 more on option)
- Argentine Air Force – 10
South Korea uses the FA-50 to perform multiple roles such as air patrol, air interdiction, forward air control, air strike and suppression of enemy air defenses. The FA-50 is well suited for counterinsurgency operations and has seen heavy use by the ROKAF in air campaigns against ISIS. Iraq, the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand have all ordered the jet for similar overlapping combat and training duties.
Kai FA-50 unit cost
The unit flyaway cost of a Kai FA-50 is approximately $35 million per aircraft, according to reported figures from orders by Iraq, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Argentina. This makes it one of the most affordable supersonic fighter aircraft on the market today.
Here is a breakdown of known FA-50 procurement deals and reported per unit costs:
| Customer | Order Year | Number of Aircraft | Total Cost | Unit Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iraq | 2013 | 24 | $1.1 billion | $45.8 million |
| Philippines | 2013 | 12 | $438 million | $36.5 million |
| Indonesia | 2014 | 16 | $1.5 billion | $93.75 million |
| Thailand | 2015 | 4 | $160 million | $40 million |
| Argentina | 2021 | 10 | $324 million | $32.4 million |
The above figures include spare parts, weapons, support equipment, training and other items in the contracts in addition to the aircraft themselves. When looking solely at flyaway costs, KAI has stated that FA-50s sold on the export market have a unit price of around $35-38 million.
What influences the aircraft price?
There are several factors that impact the final negotiated procurement cost for the FA-50:
- Number of aircraft ordered – Unit prices decrease as the total number of aircraft ordered increases. Larger orders allow economies of scale.
- Additional equipment and capabilities – Customers can choose to modify FA-50s with different engines, avionics, radars, cockpit configurations and weapons. Added capabilities increase costs.
- Maintenance and sustainment – Contracts include long-term maintenance, training and sustainment support packages tailored to the customer’s budget.
- Security packages – Enhanced security features such as classified equipment and technologies add to costs.
- Offset agreements – Agreements requiring technology transfers, co-production or other offsets influence overall contract value.
The unit cost also varies depending on when the customer placed the order due to inflation and other economic factors.
Operating and support costs
In addition to flyaway unit cost, operating and support (O&S) expenses are a major consideration when looking at total cost of ownership for the FA-50. As a lightweight supersonic jet, it is more expensive to operate than turboprop trainers but significantly cheaper than larger twin-engine fighters.
KAI estimated in 2011 that the hourly cost to operate an FA-50 is approximately $2,655. This includes fuel, maintenance, parts replacement and other factors averaged across the aircraft’s lifecycle. Fuel burn rate is a key driver of operating costs. The GE F404 engine gives the FA-50 good fuel efficiency for aircraft in its class.
Other sources have estimated the FA-50’s flight hour cost at between $2,500-$3,000 per hour. This is on par with or slightly higher than similarly sized aircraft like the Aero L-159 Alca or Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master. It is 2-3 times cheaper than operating larger fighters like F-16s or MiG-29s.
Total lifecycle O&S costs for a fleet of FA-50s will depend heavily on annual utilization rates and the operating budget of the air force. With proper resourcing, the platform provides combat jet capability at a reasonable O&S cost advantage compared to more advanced fighters.
FA-50 acquisition and support options
KAI and the South Korean government provide a number of options for acquiring the FA-50 and supporting it over the long term:
- Direct commercial purchase – Customers can negotiate a final price with KAI and acquire jets directly off the production line.
- Finance leasing – KAI facilitates lease-to-own financing over a certain period, after which the customer takes full ownership.
- Support packages – Comprehensive support deals are offered covering spare parts, maintenance, training, simulators and other sustainment needs.
- Licensed production – Transfer of technology allows customers to domestically produce, assemble and support FA-50s.
Korea has been very flexible in structuring competitive FA-50 acquisition packages for export customers. The fighter’s balance of low unit cost and technical sophistication makes it accessible for many air forces looking to modernize affordably.
Future development plans
The platform continues to evolve as KAI refines the design and develops new variants. An FA-50B upgrade was unveiled in 2019 with enhancements including a new AESA radar, integrated IRST/FLIR targeting system and updated avionics. The radar and sensors significantly improve combat capability.
There are also plans for an FA-50P anti-ship variant with an integrated anti-ship missile. Other proposed upgrades include more powerful F414 engines, conformal fuel tanks for extended range, and integration of new weapons like the KGGB laser-guided bomb.
KAI has also proposed FA-50 variants for the U.S. Air Force’s OA-X competition and T-X trainer program. An FA-50-based design dubbed the T-50A was entered into the T-X contest, which was eventually won by Boeing’s T-7 Red Hawk. The FA-50 is no longer being marketed for the OA-X program.
With these ongoing upgrade plans and worldwide export opportunities, the FA-50 looks poised to continue its success as an affordable and highly capable light fighter well into the future.
Conclusion
The Kai FA-50 Light Combat Aircraft provides air forces around the world with an efficient and cost-effective multirole fighter capability. With a proven flyaway unit cost of around $35 million and flight hour operating expenses of $2,500-$3,000, it offers significant value compared to other fighter options.
The FA-50 fills a niche requirement between trainers and advanced fighters, giving customers fighter-like performance for counterinsurgency, air patrol and air defense roles without the expense of operating larger fast jets. Over 100 aircraft have been ordered for six air forces to date.
Upgrades and new variants planned by KAI will extend the platform’s capabilities and competitiveness well into the future. For air forces looking for good bang for their buck, the FA-50 delivers proven supersonic performance and 21st century avionics at an affordable price point likely to attract continued export orders moving forward.
The Kai FA-50 is a highly successful example of how applying new technologies to trainers can produce cost-effective light combat aircraft accessible to a range of air forces not able or willing to purchase more expensive advanced fighters.
