USAF looking for T-38 replacement?

Most of you probably saw this, but in case people haven’t seen it.

U.S. Senate Calls on Air Force to Consider Purchase of Korean Trainer Jets

(Source: Korean Overseas Information Service; issued July 4, 2006)

A U.S. Senate committee has directed the country’s Air Force to study whether it should buy Korean-made aircraft to replace its aging and cost-inefficient trainer fleet.

In a directive dated May 9 and attached to the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2007, the Senate Armed Services Committee called for a study to determine the suitability of Korea’s KT-50 training aircraft to replace the current T-38 models.

The committee also called for a suitability study for the U.S.-produced T-45.

The U.S. Air Force plans to spend $1.5 billion to maintain its T-38 fleet at a cost per flying hour that is double that of the T-45. The cost of developing a new replacement trainer and system is estimated at $2 billion.

“Accordingly, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to conduct a study that would determine the suitability of the T-45 and Korean-built KT-50 training aircraft to replace the T-38,” the committee said.

“The study should focus on cost of procurement, operating costs, the availability of a complete training system, and developmental costs.”

The committee asked that a report on the study results be submitted by March 15 next year.

A diplomatic source here confirmed Seoul’s ambition to sell its KT-50 trainers. Kim Sung-il, Korea’s Air Force chief of staff, visited Washington in May to discuss a possible deal. “We are making efforts through various channels,” the source said Monday (July 3).

KT-50s are on the expensive side because of their capabilities, he said. Developed by Korea Aerospace Industries, they are tagged at around $20 million apiece.

Korea is also looking at the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Greece as possible buyers.

Now here is a big fish to catch, forget those little Middle Eastern minnows.

If I were BAE, I cozy up to Boeing and start making those Goshawk supersonic.