KAI KT-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
|
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.
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.
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).
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