Egypt’s Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) has signed an agreement with Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) to localize the manufacturing technology of T-50/FA-50 Golden Eagles.
KAI has also offered Egypt the Transfer of Technology (ToT) and joint production of Golden Eagle advanced trainer jets. The company wants to sell the light combat aircraft (LCA) to the North African nation, while Egypt plans on exporting the aircraft to third parties.
The Egyptian Air force (EAF) is in the market for a new trainer to replace its aging Alpha and K-8 fleets and to train its student pilots for the newly delivered French Rafale fighter jet, and incoming Russian Su-35 fighter jet.
Cairo wants to buy 100 new jets of which 70 will be manufactured locally.
Other competitors include HAL Light Combat Aircraft-Lead-In Fighter-Trainer based on the Tejas LCA, Leonardo M-346, Irkut Yak-130, and Aero Vodochody L-39NG.