South Korea’s aerospace sector is entering a new phase of combat aircraft development, with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) officially initiating work on the single-seat version of the FA-50 light fighter. The announcement came through a recently translated tender issued by KAI, titled the “FA-50 single-seat controllability evaluation simulator cockpit production.” This bid notice marks the technical reactivation of the long-delayed F-50 project, signaling renewed momentum for South Korea’s defense export ambitions.
The FA-50, a light combat aircraft derived from the T-50 Golden Eagle trainer, has become a successful export product for KAI. Until now, all operational variants retained the two-seat configuration. However, the F-50—first proposed nearly a decade ago—will forgo the rear cockpit in favor of increased internal fuel capacity and potentially more advanced mission systems. The current bid supports this transition, focusing on the construction of a simulator cockpit to test flight controllability in the single-seat configuration.
According to the bid notice, KAI is seeking companies capable of designing, fabricating, and integrating a simulator cockpit. This simulator will allow engineers and test pilots to evaluate control systems, ergonomics, and human-machine interface designs specific to the F-50.
The production schedule spans 22 months, from May 2025 through February 2027. The simulator will be a foundational component for later full-airframe testing and integration efforts.
Only companies meeting a stringent set of financial and legal conditions are allowed to bid. These include being free from bankruptcy, not under government sanction, having no capital impairment, and maintaining a debt ratio of less than 500%. Furthermore, organizations under external audit must not have received adverse opinions such as “refusal of opinion” or “inappropriate.”
Interested parties were required to submit a letter of intent by 17:00 KST on March 17, 2025. Additional documentation included a confidentiality agreement, company financial statements, credit reports, a corporate profile, and tax payment certificates. All materials were to be submitted via email to KAI’s designated contact, Manager Woohyuk Choi.
KAI reserves the right to re-advertise the tender if fewer than two valid bids are received. If a second call still results in only one bidder, KAI may proceed via a negotiated contract. Only those who submit a letter of intent will be allowed to attend the proposal briefing and submit a formal bid.
The FA-50 is already a sophisticated multirole light fighter. It uses a single General Electric F404-102 turbofan engine with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC), license-produced by Samsung Techwin. The airframe supports a top speed of Mach 1.5 and can operate at altitudes up to 14,630 meters.
The FA-50’s current operational radius is 443 kilometers (239 nautical miles). By removing the second seat and adding a 300-gallon internal auxiliary fuel tank, the F-50 is expected to increase this radius by 20–30%, potentially reaching over 570 kilometers without external refueling.
Avionics are locally sourced from South Korean companies including Samsung Thales, LIG Nex1, and DoDAAM Systems. Flight control hardware is supplied by Hanwha, with landing gear produced by WIA. The aircraft’s fly-by-wire system was co-developed with Lockheed Martin, and the real-time OS was built by MDS Technology.
Simulators play a critical role in aircraft development. They allow engineers to validate system design, refine flight control algorithms, and assess pilot interface elements—all before the aircraft leaves the ground. For the F-50, the simulator will focus on controllability in the absence of a second pilot and the redistribution of systems previously shared between two crew members.
This cockpit will also serve as the design basis for ground-based training systems. With the F-50 targeting export markets, it’s expected that countries purchasing the aircraft will also invest in full mission simulators derived from the evaluation cockpit.
The revival of the F-50 is supported by the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), which reauthorized funding in 2024. Previously, the single-seat version was shelved in favor of prioritizing the KF-21 Boramae program—a heavier, twin-engine 4.5-generation multirole fighter.
Now, with the KF-21 entering its flight test phase, the F-50 offers a complementary light combat option for South Korea’s defense exports. KAI believes the F-50 can deliver approximately 80% of the capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon but at significantly reduced acquisition and maintenance costs.
This pricing advantage is crucial in securing deals with countries that have budgetary or infrastructure limitations but still require modern multirole fighters.
The FA-50 family has steadily evolved. Block 10 variants include updated software for targeting pod integration, while the newer Block 20 configuration significantly expands the aircraft’s radar, weapons, and fuel capabilities.
The FA-50 Block 20 is expected to include the following upgrades:
- Radar: Raytheon PhantomStrike AESA radar or optionally LIG Nex1’s ESR-500A.
- Weapons: Integration with advanced munitions including Meteor, Brimstone, SPEAR 3, and Python-5.
- Fuel: Installation of 300-gallon conformal fuel tanks.
- Refueling: Telescopic aerial refueling probe from Cobham Mission Systems.
The F-50 will likely incorporate many of these Block 20 features by default, with the added fuel efficiency benefits of a single-seat layout.
To date, KAI has exported more than 100 FA-50 variants, with customers:
- Philippines: 12 FA-50PH aircraft (with plans for 12 more).
- Iraq: 24 FA-50IQ aircraft.
- Poland: 48 FA-50s (12 FA-50GF and 36 FA-50PL).
- Malaysia: 18 FA-50M aircraft ordered in 2023, with options for 18 more.
- Thailand: 14 T-50TH aircraft.
- Indonesia: 16 T-50i aircraft, with 6 more ordered in 2021.
Poland and Malaysia will receive the most advanced Block 20 configurations, indicating the growing international trust in the platform. The F-50 will aim to build on this trust by offering a more efficient, high-end variant tailored for nations that want greater capability without the cost of operating a twin-seat fleet.
The F-50’s revival comes at a time when nations across Asia, the Middle East, and South America are reassessing their airpower needs. Many of these countries are moving away from Soviet-era jets or face barriers to purchasing American or European fighters due to budget, logistics, or geopolitics.
The F-50, with its compatibility with Western and indigenous weapon systems, provides a versatile bridge. KAI’s export strategy emphasizes cost-effective performance, rapid delivery schedules, and long-term maintenance support through domestic partners in customer countries.
As the F-50 program gains traction, its success will depend on how well KAI navigates technical development, international interest, and geopolitical dynamics. The current tender for a controllability evaluation simulator cockpit is just one step—but it’s a decisive one. By building the testbed for the single-seat configuration, KAI is laying the groundwork for eventual flight testing, production, and deployment.
KAI projects that the F-50 could be ready for delivery by 2028. That timeline aligns with broader regional defense modernization efforts and could allow South Korea to capitalize on retiring aircraft fleets in partner nations.
