Thailand orders Korean trainer aircraft

SEOUL, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Korea Aerospace Industries is exporting its T-50 jet trainer aircraft to Thailand under a recent agreement signed in Seoul.

The deal is worth $110 million and the four trainers were scheduled to be delivered within the next 36 months.

"This contract will be an opportunity for KAI to establish a long-term partnership with the Thai Air Force," the company said.

The T-50 was developed by KAI in cooperation with Lockheed Martin. It has a maximum speed of 1,020 mph and a range of 1,150 miles.

It is a multi-role aircraft and can be equipped with a 20 millimeter gun, rockets and missiles.

Thailand has been operating decades-old L-39 trainer jets made in what was then Czechoslovakia.

The T-50, introduced in 2005, is operating with the air forces of South Korea and Indonesia. Iraq and the Philippines have also ordered the aircraft.