Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) aims to develop a prototype of a single-engined electric, basic training aircraft at ADEX 21. There are two ways we can power the electric airplane — either by a hybrid engine or with hydrogen fuel cells. There is a question mark over which technology will prevail, but KAI will complete (airplane electrification) technology by 2025 and flight operation system by 2029. KAI expressed a determination to reignite aircraft exports this year, which had been dealt a massive blow from the coronavirus outbreak.
The KAI KT-1 Woongbi was jointly developed by Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) and the Agency for Defence Development (ADD). The KT-1 is the first completely indigenous Korean aircraft ever developed. The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) is the primary customer for the type. During 2000, the first KT-1 Woongbi was handed over to the ROKAF; deliveries had originally been scheduled to commence two years earlier. One of the first export customers for the KT-1 was Indonesia.
The KT-1 can be equipped with either an analog or ‘glass’ cockpit configuration. Some variants feature additional avionics and systems, such as a night vision goggles (NVG)-compatible cockpit, head-up display (HUD), multi-function displays (MFD), GPS/inertial navigation system, mission computer, onboard oxygen generation system, a vapour-cycle environmental control system and hands-on-throttle-and-stick (HOTAS)-compatible controls.[2] Avionics are provided by various foreign companies, including Elbit, Flight Vision and Thales.
