South Korea's KAI and Thailand's TAI Sign MRO Maintenance Center for T-50TH fighter and Trainer Aircraft

22 Agustus 2024

Signing of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) between KAI and TAI (photos: RTAF)

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) of the Republic of Korea and Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) of Thailand entered into a joint support agreement for the T-50TH Golden Eagle fighter and trainer aircraft on August 19, 2024. 

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between KAI, Republic of Korea and TAI, Thailand covers the establishment of a future Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) center in Thailand, KAI said.

KAI added that the MOU was signed as a preparation for the signing of a performance-based logistics (PBL) contract for the T-50TH fighter and trainer aircraft with the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF). 

"Starting with this agreement, KAI and TAI plan to expand mutual cooperation to enhance the operational rate of T-50TH aircraft and strengthen their capabilities accordingly, and to identify mid- to long-term cooperation plans such as establishing an aircraft maintenance base in Asia and exploring potential markets," KAI said.

KAI, Republic of Korea added that the pending logistics agreement with the Royal Thai Air Force is based on the same agreement with the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF). It is the world's largest operator of the T-50 advanced jet trainer, TA-50 light attack and trainer aircraft, and FA-50 light attack and fighter aircraft.

The Royal Thai Air Force operates 14 KAI T-50TH Golden Eagle fighter and trainer aircraft at Squadron 401, Wing 4, Takhli, in Nakhon Sawan Province in central Thailand.

KAI also proposed the FA-50 light fighter and attack aircraft as a possible option for a new 12-fighter attack aircraft procurement program.

The Air Force's current options are the US Lockheed Martin F-16V Block 70/72 fighter and the Swedish Saab Gripen E/F fighter.

 

Building on the international success of the T-50 Golden Eagle family of jet aircraft, KAI, Republic of Korea, has entered into agreements with the domestic aviation industries of several customer countries.

In July 2023, KAI opened an office in Poland to support the procurement of 48 FA-50 light attack aircraft. The aircraft factory has been established at the Polish Air Force (Inspektorat Sił Powietrznych) Mińsk Mazowiecki air base and will provide 24-hour support to the Polish fleet.

In early July 2024, KAI signed a parts manufacturing agreement with Peru's Sema MRO center to prepare for Peru's possible acquisition of FA-50 light attack fighters.

The Peruvian government in the capital Lima is considering the possibility of procuring between 20 and 24 FA-50 light attack fighters and is also considering joining the KF-21 Boramae fighter program

For the project to procure fighter aircraft to replace the fighter aircraft Lockheed Martin F-16A/B ADF Squadron 102, Wing 1, Korat, fiscal year 2025-2034, which is a competition between Lockheed Martin, USA and Saab, Sweden. 

It was previously reported that the two companies would complete their final, unmodified proposal to the Royal Thai Air Force by August 20, 2024, with a decision on the selection expected to be announced by the end of August 2024.

Therefore, the FA-50 light attack fighter aircraft should have a chance in the fighter procurement project to replace the Northrop F-5E/F TH Super Tigris, Squadron 211, Wing 21, Ubon Ratchathani. 

Or the attack aircraft type 7, Dornier Alpha Jet A TH, Squadron 231, Wing 23, Udon Thani, one squadron, 12-14 aircraft, which will be in the fiscal year 2031-2035. 

However, since former Thai Prime Minister Chatchai Thavisin was removed from office after being found guilty of corruption, the Thai cabinet was also removed from office in a legal sense, and the current Thai Prime Minister Paethongtarn Shinawatra was appointed to the position.

This means that a new cabinet will need to be formed, and at the time of writing, Thai Defense Minister Suthin Khlangsaeng remains in the position, so it is understood that any decisions on major procurement projects for the Thai Ministry of Defense will be postponed until a new Thai cabinet is formed.

(AAG)