The T-50 program began as a joint development between Lockheed Martin and Korea Aerospace Industries to meet the advanced jet training needs of the Republic of Korea Air Force. More than 100 aircraft have been built and delivered to the RoKAF. The latest version currently in production is the FA-50 light combat aircraft.
The development of an indigenous jet trainer was proposed by ROKAF to the Republic of Korea Ministry of Defense.
November 1991
A concept development plan for the trainer was approved by the Republic of Korea Ministry of Defense.
October 1992
Concept development phase began for the new trainer.
December 1995
Concept development phase was completed.
July 1997
Republic of Korea designates the KTX-2 a National Program.
September 1997
Contract for the T-50 is officially signed.
October 1997
Full-scale development program began.
November 1997
Workshare and technical assistance program with Lockheed Martin began.
16 July 1999
PDR completed
31 August 1999
Outer mold lines of the design are finalized.
22 February 2000
KTX-2 is officially renamed the T-50 in recognition of the fiftieth anniversary of the Republic of Korea Air Force.
4 August 2000
CDR completed
10 November 2000
T-50 Joint Marketing Agreement between KAI and Lockheed Martin is signed forming T-50 International
15 January 2001
Major sections of T-50 No. 1 are mated for the first time.
14 September 2001
T-50 No. 1 rolls out 100 days ahead of schedule
31 October 2001
Official rollout ceremony for T-50 No. 1 at Sachon. The ceremony is attended by Korea President Kim
2 January 2002
Static loads testing begins.
17 April 2002
First Flight Readiness Review is completed on schedule.
22 July 2002
Durability testing begins.
20 August 2002
First flight of T-50 No. 1
28 October 2002
Rollout of T-50 No. 3, the first T-50 LIFT version
30 October 2002
Official First Flight Event Ceremony
8 November 2002
First flight of T-50 No. 2
22 November 2002
Aircraft reached 40,000-ft operational ceiling
19 February 2003
First supersonic flight
25 April 2003
Durability testing representing one lifetime for a T-50 airframe is completed.
28 April 2003
100th test flight is completed; the T-50 reaches Mach 1.2 for the first time
28 July 2003
Initial Operational Assessment flights begin
12 August 2003
Second lifetime durability testing begins
14 August 2003
Initial Operational Assessment flying successfully completed
20 August 2003
Ultimate static loads testing completed on schedule
29 August 2003
First flight of lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT) version
September 2003
Last of four FSD aircraft (second LIFT version) enter flight test program
September 2003
First flight of A-50
December 2003
T-50 production contract signed
November 2004
First gun firing and external fuel tank drop of A-50
May 2005
1,000th test flight of the full-scale development program
August 2005
T-50 flight test program concludes after completing 1,146 flights.
August 2005
Roll out of first production T-50
October 2005
Public debut of T-50 at Seoul Air Show
November 2005
First AIM-9 air-to-air missile firing from A-50
December 2005
First and second production T-50s delivered to ROKAF
January 2006
Conclusion of A-50 flight test program after completing 1,411 flights
October 2006
A-50 renamed TA-50 and FA-50
January 2007
T-50 is selected as aircraft for ROKAF aerial demonstration team, the Black Eagles.
April 2007
First group of ROKAF student pilots inducted into T-50 training course.
October 2007
First group of ROKAF student pilots graduate from T-50 training course.
November 2007
2,000th test flight for full-scale development program.
October 2008
FA-50 development program approved.
June 2009
FA-50 preliminary design review
October 2009
Public debut of Black Eagles flying T-50 at Seoul Air Show.
March 2010
First T-50B delivery (to Black Eagles)
May 2010
Last T-50 delivered to ROKAF
2012
Introduction of TA-50 LIFT course to ROKAF
2013
First FA-50 deployment
