Chris Pocock has been covering the defense beat for AIN for over 30&nbsp;years. He is a British citizen and a graduate of the University of Cambridge. Chris worked in the air cargo business for ten years before becoming a full-time writer in 1983. He subsequently edited two air cargo journals before becoming AIN’s Defense Editor. He retired from that position in 2018, but still contributes to the publication. Chris has written extensively on aerial reconnaissance, including four books on the history of the U-2 spyplane. He also lectures on this and other topics related to intelligence-gathering in the Cold War.

Defense Correspondent

Chris Pocock

Indonesia has provisionally selected the <a href="?q=node/23530">KAI T-50 Golden Eagle</a> as a new jet trainer, and will buy 16, according to the Chosunilbo newspaper in Seoul. The paper said that Korea Aerospace Industries “slashed the price of the T-50 to less than $25 million per jet” to head off competition from the Russian Yak-130.
Last February, Korean intelligence agents were caught in a Seoul hotel room, examining laptop computers belonging to a visiting Indonesian government delegation. The two countries downplayed the incident.
Indonesia was also evaluating the <a href="?q=node/11440">Aermacchi M-346</a> and the Aero Vodochody L-159. Negotiations for a final contract will now commence, with deliveries to start in 2013. This would represent a first export sale of the T-50. The Indonesian air force currently operates BAE Hawk Mk53 jet trainers, which also have air-ground combat capability. The T-50 is also marketed as the A-50, and may therefore be acquired for attack as well as training roles.&nbsp;
Korea and Indonesia are developing closer economic ties, and the latter has been offered a role in the development of the proposed KF-X fighter. Indonesia previously bought KT-1 primary trainers from KAI, while 12 CN-235 transports went in the other direction.

Indonesia Is First Export Customer for Korea’s T-50 Trainer Jet

Indonesia has provisionally selected the <a href="news/single-news-page/article/jury-remains-out-on-t-50s-export-potential-23530/">KAI T-50 Golden Eagle</a

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN