Thailand To Buy Four T50 trainer jets From South Korea

South Korea has secured a $110 million contract from Thailand to export four T-50 trainer jets. 

The agreement was clinched between the Korea Aerospace Industries and the Thai government in Seoul, the Korea Herald reported Thursday.

The supersonic aircraft, built with technical assistance from the Lockheed Martin, is scheduled to be delivered by March 2018.

The Thai Air Force has been pushing to replace its L39 jets manufactured in the former Czechoslovakia and used for more than 30 years. Its cabinet approved 3.7 billion baht ($103 million) for the project late last year.

The T-50 is considered as suitable alternative for the Thailand air force’s drive to modernize its military and cultivate fourth-generation combat pilots. 

The latest agreement will make way for further orders as Thailand is seeking to buy in as many as 24 more trainer jets in the coming months. If KAI wins the contract, the sum is likely to near $800 million, the largest package for the model’s exports. 

KAI is also targeting on the US Air Force’s $10 billion program know as T-X to adopt new two-seat, faster jet trainers to replace the Northrop T-38 Talon. The winner is expected to be announced in the second half of 2017, company officials said.