Korean Information Service, Kim Eun Gi, head of Korea's Air Force, will pitch the country's supersonic trainer jet in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday (Nov. 11), Air Force officials said.
According to the officials, Kim will participate in the “Dubai Airshow 2007” and publicize the superiority of Korea's T-50 Golden Eagle.
Kim, who incorporated the T-50 into the national Air Force's training, personally commended 23 pilots for successfully finishing the first T-50 jet-training program on Oct. 31.
In February, the UAE chose the Korean-made aircraft as one of three candidates for its project to acquire next-generation advanced trainer jets.
The other two bidders are Britain's BAE Systems Hawk 128 and Italy's Aermacchi M-346. (BAE confirmed last week that its Hawk bid had been eliminated by the UAE – Ed.)
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the state-run manufacturer of the T-50, said its jet has many advantages over its rivals, including the ability to reach Mach 1.4, a fly-by-wire control interface, and the ability to be used as a potent light attack aircraft.
The UAE is expected to announce its decision by the end of the year.
The T-50 was developed with Korea's own technology in 2005 and each jet is priced around 20 billion won. If Korea wins the defense bid, it will be the first export of a jet aircraft for the country and the lucrative deal may be worth 50-60 planes and exceed 1 trillion won.
