KAI signs new deal with Indonesia for KT-1Bs and T-50i uppgrade.

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), a South Korean defense firm, signed a contract worth 100 billion won (US$89.4 million) with Indonesia on Thursday, its officials said on November 8, 2018.

A TNI AU T-50i advanced trainer jet
(Credit: KAI)

The company inked the contract to export three KT-1B trainer aircraft and install radar equipment and guns on the Indonesian Air Force's T-50i planes on the sidelines of the Indo Defence 2018 Expo & Forum in Jakarta.

KAI is to deliver the KT-1Bs within 28 months of the contract's implementation, and it will complete the T-50i project within 25 months.

KAI exported the KT-1B overseas three times between 2001 and 2008. Indonesia's military is known to use the KT-1B for basic training as well as for air show programs.

The company has been pushing to export its Surion utility helicopters and FA-50 light attack fighters to the Southeast Asian country.

Indonesia signed a contract in May 2011 to order 16 T-50i training aircraft for US$400 million. The country's Air Force also received 17 KT-1B trainer aircraft, of which three were lost during training.