September 2, 2005 - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) rolled out the first production version of the T-50 Golden Eagle advanced jet trainer, developed and being marketed worldwide with the assistance of Lockheed Martin, on August 30.

Caling it a new era for military pilot training systems, KAI said the supersonic T-50 will have the maneuverability, endurance and systems to prepare pilots to fly current advanced fighters, such as the Lockheed Martin advanced F-16 and fifth-generation fighters like Lockheed's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Korea's President Roh Moo-hyun was the principal speaker at the ceremony.

"The roll out of the T-50 means the achievement of the long desire of the Korean government to boost the high-tech aerospace industries in Korea and to strengthen the basis of self national defense through development of the indigenous supersonic aircraft," said Roh.

"The T-50 aircraft will be a cornerstone of the superiority of the ROKAF's air defense power and allow our Air Force the ability to change or improve the configuration of the aircraft, which will ultimately allow us to develop indigenous fighters in the near future," he said.

KAI is the prime contractor for the T-50, and Lockheed Martin is the principal subcontractor assisting with development of the new high-performance trainer. The two companies are joint participants in international marketing of the T-50.

South Korea is currently ordering 50 T-50 and 44 A-50 aircraft, while an additional 200 A-50s could be ordered in the 2007 to 2012 timeframe to replace the country's aging F-5 fighters.

KAI and Lockheed Martin said they see the potential for the sale of another 600 aircraft to other international customers.