When the announcement was made that Korea would pursue the production of the T-50 trainer I wondered if it was being manufactured more for the international market or for the ROK Air Force and now we may be getting the answer to this question:

Polish air force pilots have successfully test-flown South Korea’s T-50 supersonic trainer jets as the European nation considers the T-50 as a “frontrunner” for its program to acquire lead-in fighter trainers, the Polish ambassador to Seoul said Sunday.

The remarks by Ambassador Marek Calka came after a Polish military delegation ended a five-day visit to South Korea from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1 for talks over defense ties between Seoul and Warsaw.

“According to the Polish military delegation, the Korean T-50 meets all technical criteria to become a Polish training jet,” Calka told The Korea Times. “The Polish government will soon invite tenders for equipping the Polish Air Force with a training jet. Polish military experts perceive the potential Korean offer as a frontrunner.”

Poland’s possible purchase of the T-50 Golden Eagle jet was high on the agenda during talks between the Polish delegates and Korean military leaders, including Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee and Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Kye-hoon, according to an embassy spokesman.  [Korea Times]