TA-50 breaking formation. Photo: KAI TA-50 With the New Year barely underway, South Korea is once again demonstrating a determination to build a formidable military force capable of dealing with potential enemies. The government has signed a $600 million deal with Korea Aerospace Industries (KIA) for 20 FA-50 fighter/attack aircraft based on the highly regarded T-50 advanced jet trainer. KAI is reporting that the aircraft will be delivered between 2013 and 2014. The FA-50 is a lightweight fighter/attack aircraft incorporating the most advanced technology available in the T-50 Golden Eagle family of aircraft. KAI also believes that South Korea may increase the order to as many as 60 aircraft for use as replacements for the aging 150 Northrop F-5 aircraft currently being operated. The FA-50 aircraft ordered are expected to be equipped with the Link 16 tactical link, Elta Systems EL/M-2032 pulse Doppler radar, radar warning systems and a night vision imagery system. Northrop Grumman and Raytheon previously selected the FA-50 as a prime candidate for being outfitted with the same version of active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar slated for use in a United States Air Force F-16 upgrade. The FA-50 is built to carry a weapon’s payload of 9,920 pounds that includes Boeing’s Joint Direct Attack Munitions and Textron’s CBU-97 Sensor Fused Weapon. In addition, the FA-50 is also fitted with a 20mm cannon and is configured to carry air-to-air missiles. KAI has also included in the Golden Eagle family, along with the T-50 and the FA-50, a T-50B aerobatic aircraft and an armed TA-50. All versions of the Golden Eagle family feature a single General Electric F404 engine. South Korea is expected to issue a call for bids for its F-X III project in February to select a replacement for its F-4 Phantom jets. The candidates competing for this lucrative contract include the Boeing F-15 Silent Eagle, Lockheed Martin F-35, Sukhoi PAK FA, and the Eurofighter Typhoon.

   Colombia has bought an Israeli unmanned air vehicle for security patrols on its troubled border with Venezuela and is considering acquiring at least one more, defense industry sources said.
Israel's Elbit Systems this month confirmed it sold a UAV for $50 million to a Latin American country that it didn't identify. Later, Infodefensa.com security and defense Web site identified the buyer as Colombia. Other reports said the UAV was ordered for deployment by the Colombian national police.
Colombia would use the UAV in border control missions notably in the country's northeast along the border with Venezuela but infodefensa.com cited sources saying the Colombian army is also interested in procuring a UAV, AviationWeek reported.
Colombia and Venezuela patched up differences in 2011 but anti-government guerrilla activity in Colombia continues. Colombian officials accuse Venezuela of backing guerrilla groups opposed to the government in Bogota, a charge that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez denies.
Elbit's Hermes 900 tactical UAV is an advanced vehicle that can be deployed in all kinds of difficult atmospheric conditions. The UAV flies at a maximum 33,000 feet and is usually tasked to capture real-time images and transmit them to a universal ground control station.
Hermes 900 can take off and land automatically even in adverse weather conditions, AviationWeek said on its Web site. The UAV's maximum endurance is 40 hours and maximum takeoff weight is 2,134 pounds. It had its maiden flight Dec.14, 2009.
Elbit Systems developed the Hermes 900 as an extension of its Hermes 450 tactical UAV systems, with full compatibility in missions and support infrastructure.
The upgraded UAV features larger multi-payload configurations and higher flight altitude than its predecessor.
The Hermes 900 incorporates an Internal Auto Takeoff and Landing system that enables auto-landing even on alternate non-instrumented runways. It features full redundancy and fault tolerant avionics and electronics architecture.
Elbit says the accompanying universal ground control station can control two UAVs at any given time from a single station while a single operator operates the air vehicle and payloads for each UAV.
In July 2011, Elbit reported the first export sale of its Hermes 900 UAV to the Chilean air force. The Chilean choice followed evaluation of two classes of UAVs. At the high end were the Elbit Hermes 900 and IAI Heron, also from Israel and developed by the Israel Aerospace Industries.
At the lower tactical level were Elbit Hermes 450, and Aerostar from Aeronautics Defense Systems.
Industry sources said Elbit's success in Colombia would likely open it to other markets in Latin America and the Caribbean.