Peru receives first Korean-made pilot trainer planes

SEOUL, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- The Peruvian Air Force has taken delivery of the first two of 20 KT-1 trainer aircraft from Korea Aerospace Industries under a 2012 contract worth $200 million.

Peruvian President Ollanta Humala, the country's minister of defense, and chiefs of the three branches of Peru's armed forces were in attendance at the delivery ceremony held at an air base in Las Palmas.

Under the 2012 agreement, 16 of the 20 trainer aircraft are to be produced in Peru. KAI said it completed its first production facility at the Peruvian air base and is now training local personnel for it.

The first aircraft to be locally manufactured in Peru is expected to roll off the assembly line next August.

The KT-1 was jointly developed by KAI and Korea's Agency for Defense Development. It has a maximum speed of 357 miles per hour and a range of more than 700 nautical miles. It is flown in Korea, Indonesia and Turkey.