[Exclusive] Black Eagles to Attend UK Airshow After 10 Years

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The Air Force's special flight team, the 'Black Eagles,' will participate in a UK airshow for the first time in 10 years. This is expected to signal a positive outlook for overseas orders of the domestically produced advanced trainer aircraft T-50, which will be showcased at the airshow. After the airshow, the team plans to conduct successive flyovers in the skies of Poland, Slovakia, and Egypt, which is anticipated to benefit the domestic defense industry as well.

According to government officials on the 12th, the Black Eagles will participate consecutively in the Southport Airshow starting in July, followed by the RIAT and Farnborough Airshows. Starting from the end of this month, nine T-50 aircraft will be sequentially disassembled and transported to the UK. A team of about 120 members, including Black Eagles pilots, will also be sent to the site.

The Black Eagles previously participated in a UK airshow in 2012. Although it was their first overseas airshow participation at the time, they received enthusiastic responses, including winning the grand prize. The government believes that participating in the airshow will not only showcase flight skills but also promote domestic aviation technology, which will aid defense exports.

In this regard, immediately after the UK airshow, the Black Eagles will conduct flyovers in Poland, Slovakia, and Egypt. This will be the first time flying over European countries other than the UK. All these countries have direct or indirect interest in the domestic defense industry. Poland is currently in discussions with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to import the FA-50 light attack aircraft, which is a modified version of the T-50. KAI recently participated in the Slovak International Defense Exhibition, actively promoting the FA-50 light attack aircraft. Egypt also imported K9 self-propelled howitzers worth 2 trillion won in February.

A government official stated, "We are discussing whether to additionally visit countries such as the Philippines during the return trip from Europe."