Lockheed Martin/KAI Contender for T-X Shows 5th Generation Thinking
The Lockheed Martin/Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) T-50A achieved its maiden flight in the USA on 19 November. The aircraft was announced as the companies’ joint bid for the USAF T-X trainer programme in February, with Greenville, SC selected as the final assembly and checkout facility.

Purpose-built around 5th-generation thinking, the T-50A is intended to train tomorrow’s pilots of the F-22 RAPTOR and F-35 LIGHTNING II, as well as of front-line 4th-generation aircraft. The T-50A has trained over 1,800 pilots to date, in more than 100,000 hours of flight operations.

The accompanying Ground-Based Training System features innovative technologies that deliver an immersive, synchronized ground-based training platform. The T-50A team also brings extensive experience in world-class, worldwide logistics support.