SEOUL, September 17 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is betting big on winning a $7 billion U.S. Navy contract to replace its aging T-45 trainer jets, leaning on its proven record with advanced trainers already in service worldwide.
KAI has teamed up with Lockheed Martin to offer the TF-50N, a naval variant of the single-engine T-50 jet trainer that is in service or on order with seven countries.
The U.S. Navy will receive proposals for its Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) in December, aiming to select a preferred design and manufacturing team next year. The project calls for delivery of about 25 aircraft annually, with a minimum fleet of 145. The contract, valued at more than $7 billion, is set to be finalized by January 2027.
In a solicitation released in March, the Navy said carrier landing capability would no longer be required, opting instead for virtual practice, simplifying trainer requirements.
“The U.S. Navy’s RFI has gone through multiple changes so far,” a KAI official said, noting the challenges bidders face from repeated delays and design revisions. “No specific company currently holds an advantage.”
Under the partnership, KAI will lead aircraft manufacturing while Lockheed Martin oversees systems integration. The TF-50N builds on the operational success of the T-50 family, which has been deployed by South Korea and international customers including Indonesia, Iraq, and the Philippines.
Competition remains stiff. Boeing, in partnership with Sweden’s Saab, is offering the T-7B after beating the KAI-Lockheed Martin team in 2018 for the U.S. Air Force’s advanced trainer program. Italy’s Leonardo is pitching its M-346N, though it lags behind the KAI-Lockheed consortium in export track record and operational experience.
KAI shares climbed to a fresh five-year high of 109,200 won on Wednesday.
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