KT-1 Woongbi Korean Basic Trainer

The KT-1 Woong-Bee (Great Flight) serves as a basic training aircraft for the Air Force pilots. KAI and the ADD jointly developed Korea's first indigenous aircraft exclusively using domestic technologies in a project that began in 1988. The plane was the first in its class ever to be designed entirely by a computer. It is equipped with all the systems needed to teach intricate acrobatic maneuvers as well as a computer controlled flight system. The Korean government planned to replace the aged T-37 and T-41 fleet of training planes with the KT-1.

Since the beginning of the KT-1 development program in 1988, KT-1 was developed by the cooperation between KAI and ADD (Agency for Defense Development) utilizing Korea's own technology. In 1998, KAI received the production certification for KT-1 from the Ministry of Defense as the basic trainer for the ROKAF.

The Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) unveiled the KT-1 basic trainer, codenamed ``Woongbee, at its manufacturing facility in November 2000. KAI delivered the first KT-1 to set in order in AB in November 2000 and since the 2001, the student pilots have graduated from the basic trainer course with KT-1. In addition to unveiling of the first independently-developed aircraft, KAI also held ceremonies for rolling out the KT-1 and performing various test runs of the advanced military aircraft. The successful introduction of KT-1 followed a decision in 1988 to localize technological research for aircraft and came after more than 10 years of intensive development.

The KT-1 basic trainers come with turbo-prop engines boasting 950- horsepower that generate a maximum speed of up to 648 kilometers per hour and can cover a distance of 1,700 kilometers without refueling. The aircraft, which will basically be used by the Republic of Korea Air Force, measures 10.3 meters in length, 10.6 meters in width and 3.7 meters in height.

Having the well proven integrated system package like ASIP(Aircraft Structural Integrity Program), configuration control and ILS, KT-1 has various systems that can be satisfied for the diversity of needs and requirements of customers.

In April 2003 the Republic of Korea became one of the world's few aircraft exporters by providing trainer airplanes to Indonesia. It is the first time for the country to export airplanes. The KT-1B, a modified version of the KT-1, enables air force pilots to prepare for supersonic fighter jets and can be equipped with light arms for combat. By the end of 2003, according to the KAI, it would deliver seven jets plus spare parts as well as provide Indonesian pilots and maintenance staff with flight and maintenance education under a lump-sum $60 million contract with the Indonesian Air Force. It is also negotiating the export of 13 additional KT-1Bs to Indonesia. The KAI said it could export more than 150 KT-1Bs worth some $500 million by 2012 as over 20 countries have shown keen interest in the plane.

In August 2007 the state-funded Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a $500 million contract with Turkey to export 55 upgraded versions of the KT-1 Woongbi basic traine. The deal is the country's second largest arms export after Samsung Techwin's $1-billion license deal over the K-9 self-propelled howitzer with Turkey in 2001. KAI had sold 12 KT-1s to Indonesia, which was considering buying eight more.

On 19 February 2014, KAI (Korea Aerospace Industries) announced the successful first flight of KT-1P, the Korean trainer and armed aircraft for export to Peru. KT-1P is a utility aircraft with improved high-tech avionics equipment and arming capability based on domestic basic trainer KT-1, tactical control aircraft KA-1, which is operated as light attack aircraft, and XKT-1, developed for export by the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (MOTIE). KAI is planning to complete a test and evaluation for the basic configuration of KT-1P by April and obtain an airworthiness certificate for final loading configuration from the government by early 2015. KAI entered into an export deal for a total of 20 KT-1Ps worth 210 million dollars with Peru in 2012 through a government-to-government transaction. Also, in November 2013, it completed the co-production base at Las Palmas air unit in Lima, Peru, establishing a bridgehead for the Latin American market.

The Korea Aerospace Industries inked a deal with Indonesia for three more trainer aircraft on 08 November 2018. The South Korean defense manufacturer said the contract signed in Jakarta was worth about 90 million U.S. dollars and called for the delivery of three KT-1B trainers, aircraft developed using indigenous technology. The planes were due in 28 months. Under the deal, KAI would also install new radar equipment and machine guns on planes it sold to Jakarta previously. With this fourth order, the Indonesian military would have bought a total of 20 KT-1B trainers plus 16 T-50 trainers.