KAI KT-1 Woongbi

This article is about the South Korean trainer aircraft. For the Chinese rocket known as KT-1, see Kaituozhe-1.
KT-1 Woongbi
KT-1 during a demonstration
Role Basic trainer and light attack aircraft
National origin Republic of Korea
Manufacturer Korea Aerospace Industries
Design group Daewoo
First flight November 1991
Introduction 2000
Status In production
Primary users Republic of Korea Air Force
Indonesian Air Force
Turkish Air Force
Peruvian Air Force
Produced 1999-present
Number built 175+
Unit cost
US$7 million[1]

The KAI KT-1 Woongbi (Hangul: KT-1 웅비) is a Korean single-engined turboprop, basic training aircraft. It was jointly developed by KAI and the Agency for Defence Development (ADD). The KT-1 is the first completely indigenous Korean aircraft ever developed.

Design and development

Development was initiated under the KTX program for the Republic of Korea Air Force in 1988 using the CATIA computer program to completely develop the aircraft, the first of its class. Nine prototypes were built on June 1991 with the first flight of the KT-1 occurring on November 1991 for static and fatigue testing. In 1995, the project was officially named 'Woongbi'. In 1998 the final test flight was performed. In 1999, a contract was signed for eighty-five aircraft with provisions for an additional twenty between Korea Aerospace Industries and the Republic of Korea. The first KT-1 Woongbi was handed over to the Republic of Korea Air Force in 2000 with the delivery of the eighty-five aircraft being completed in 2002.

The KT-1 can be equipped with either an analog or 'glass' cockpit configuration. Both types are employed by the Republic of Korea Air Force. In terms of appearance, the KT-1 is visually reminiscent of the Pilatus PC-9.

Operational history

KTX-1 Yeo-Myung is the first prototype built by KAI.

KAI exported seven aircraft plus spare parts to Indonesia in April 2003 under a 60 million USD contract, and five more in May 2005. In a press release held in Sacheon, South Korea on March 8, 2006, KAI stated that it will export more than 150 improved versions of the KT-1 to various countries in Central America and Southeast Asia. The improved export version of the KT-1 will be called KT-1C.

As of June, 2007, South Korea and Turkey have successfully negotiated for a contract for exporting 40 (+15) KT-1, as well as modular armor technology of K2 Black Panther for Turkey's future indigenous MBT, to Turkey for KRW₩500,000,000,000 (approximately US$540,000,000).[2]

On 6 November 2012, KAI and the Peruvian Air Force signed a contract for 20 KT-1Ps (ten KT and ten KA versions) including some offset and technology transfers for an approximate amount of US$208 million. KAI was to provide the first four aircraft by 2014 and the rest were to be assembled at SEMAN (maintenance air wing of the Peruvian Air Force).

On 15 March 2015, Indonesia's Jupiter Aerobatic Team, which flies the KAI KT-1, experienced a serious midair collision during a practice session for Malaysia's Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition. Initial reports stated that all four pilots survived the collision.[3]

Variants

ROKAF 8th Fighter Wing KA-1
KTX-1 Yeo-myung
Prototype primary trainer each with a different engine fitted, six built.[4] KTX-1 turboprop trainer in 1988, and the first prototype flew in 1991. The first two prototypes were powered by the 550-shp. Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25A turboprop.
KT-1
KT-1 is the basic trainer of the ROKAF. The KT-1 is bigger, heavier, the tail surfaces are relocated and it has a more powerful P&W Canada PT6A-62.(950-shp)[5]
KA-1 at Osan Air Base, 2010.
KA-1
An armed advanced trainer with light-attack and forward air control capabilities. Several new features unique to the KA-1 are a head-up display and up-front control panel, MFD panels, and five hardpoints, two under each wing and one under the fuselage. The hardpoints may be equipped with rocket launchers, gun pods or AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.
KT-1B
Export version for Indonesia.
KT-1C
Improved, armed export version equipped with a centreline forward looking infrared pod. The KT-1C may also be equipped with a 12.7 mm gun pod, chaffes, flares, training missiles, rockets or unguided bombs.
KT-1T
Export version for Turkey.
KT-1P
Export version for Peru.

Operators

Peruvian Air Force KAI KT-1P Torito
Turkish Air Force KAI KT-1 Woongbi
 Indonesia
 Republic of Korea
 Peru
 Turkey

Specifications (KT-1)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004[10]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

Notes
  1. ↑ "El SEMAN de la Fuerza Aérea del Perú ensamblará 24 aviones turbo-prop KT-1" (in Spanish). Info Defesea, 07 March 2012. Retrieved: 22 April 2012.
  2. ↑ Korea in Huge Arms Export Deal to Turkey
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ Taylor 1996, pp.58-59
  5. ↑ "Directory: military aircraft " Flight Global, 25 May 2004. Retrieved: 24 July 2014.
  6. ↑ Military Plane Crashes at Bali Airport
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ Korea to export KT-1 trainers to Peru.
  9. ↑ "Turkish air force to receive first KT-1 trainers" Flight Global, 27 October 2010. Retrieved: 28 May 2012.
  10. ↑ Jackson 2003, pp. 316–317.
  11. ↑ "KT-1 Basic Trainer / Light Attack Aircraft, South Korea". airforce-technology.com. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
Bibliography
  • Jackson, Paul (2003). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5. 
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1996). Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory. London, England: Brassey's. ISBN 1857531981. 

External links

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