Korea Aerospace Industries is looking to establish an industrial partnership for the production and marketing of the FA-50 in Africa and the Middle East, and Egypt is a strong candidate.
The Black Eagles aerobatic team of the Republic of South Korea Air Force (ROKAF) performed the first aerobatics demonstration during the recent Pyramid Air Show 2022.
The participation of the Black Eagles’ T-50Bs is no coincidence, as it marks the importance of the Egyptian market for Korea. The company reported that Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) strengthened local marketing activities during the August 3 air show, which took place over the spectacular pyramids of Giza.
KAI is targeting a lucrative advanced trainer business for the Egyptian Air Force, which is in the process of selecting a model by 2023, and this potential demand for advanced trainers represents the second largest market, after the United States, as it could amount to approximately 100 aircraft.
Other contenders include China’s AVIC L-15 and Italy’s Leonardo M346, but KAI contends that the FA-50 has a high compatibility with the Egyptian Air Force’s primary fighter, the F-16 (with more than 160 fighters in service), with which it shares much of its ground logistics, and is an aircraft designed to ease and accelerate the pilot’s transition to the F-16.
These same arguments were what won the FA-50 a victory in Poland, which recently signed a contract for the purchase of 48 units.
See also: Why did the FA-50 win in Poland? F-15EX and KF-21 on the horizon
As in the Polish case, offset and technology transfer represent a central pillar in the negotiations between Egypt and Korea. In this regard, Lee Bong-geun, general manager of KAI’s Export Innovation Center, said: «KAI will promote joint production and joint marketing in Egypt.
Egypt is pursuing an extensive program to modernize its Armed Forces, including the renewal of the Egyptian Air Force’s combat assets. Examples include the purchase of the MiG-29 M/M2 from Russia a few years ago (and the frustrated purchase of Su-35 fighters), the CH-47F Chinook from the USA or the 30 new Dassault Rafale from France, which will be added to the 24 aircraft already received.
See also: Egypt authorized to purchase some twenty CH-47F Chinook helicopters
The Egyptian Air Force not only has a need to replace its fleet of 40 advanced Alpha Jet trainers, but also older fighters such as the Mirage 5E (modernized) and Mirage 2000.
The FA-50 can fulfill both advanced training/LIFT and combat missions and, depending on the chosen configuration, can engage air targets beyond visual range, or attack ground and naval targets with modern weaponry, from safe distances, complementing well with more advanced assets such as the 4.5 generation fighters.
