KAI seeks new jet export orders at Singapore Airshow

Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. said Wednesday that it is seeking to win new aircraft export orders at this year's Singapore Airshow as the company moves to expand its footprint in the global market.

KAI, South Korea's sole aircraft manufacturer that makes KT-1 basic and T-50 advanced trainers, as well as Surion utility helicopter, is taking part in the six-day event that ends on Sunday.

The air show at the Changi Exhibition Center is Asia's largest, with some 1,000 companies from 40 countries showing off their products to prospective buyers from around the world this year. KAI, along with four other South Korean aerospace companies, opened a dedicated exhibition booth.

Based in Sacheon, 437 kilometers southeast of Seoul, KAI said its CEO Ha Sung-yong met with Orlando Carvalho, the executive vice president of aeronautics at Lockheed Martin Corp. on Tuesday, pledging to work closely together to win the U.S. Air Force's T-X program.

The program, which aims to procure jet trainers for the United States military, could lead to some 1,000 aircraft being built worth 50 trillion won ($40.7 billion). This includes the initial batch of 350 planes, as well as aggressor aircraft that will be used to simulate enemy fighters. The aggressor fighters are used to train front-line fighter pilots.

KAI said the formal announcement for bidding is expected to be made late this year, with the final winner to be selected in the second half of 2017.

KAI, which built the T-50 supersonic jet in cooperation with Lockheed, said winning the T-X order could allow the company to effectively control the global jet trainer market for the time being. The company said that it is focused on the T-50 but is pitching for additional sales of its KT-1 propeller driven trainer and wants to sign an agreement to sell its Surion chopper that has yet to win an export deal.  

While exports are a key consideration, it is also forging closer ties with foreign partners for its Korean Fighter Experimental light civil helicopter and light armed helicopter programs, KAI said.

The KF-X is Seoul's plan to replace its aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 jets, while helicopter projects are designed to give the company greater presence in the world's aerospace market.

KAI, meanwhile, said the South Korea's Air Force's Black Eagles acrobatic team flying eight T-50Bs received considerable attention from potential buyers. The T-50Bs are modified versions of the stock T-50 and have been used to highlight the jet's flying capabilities. (Yonhap)