KAI Export Record: Which Countries Bought Korea Aerospace Industries Aircraft?
SEO Title: KAI Export Record: Which Countries Bought Korea Aerospace Industries Aircraft?
Meta Description: Complete list of KAI export contracts — FA-50, T-50, KT-1 — by country, year, units, and contract value. Updated for 2026.
URL Slug: kai-export-record-countries-aircraft-2026
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KAI Export Record: Which Countries Bought Korea Aerospace Industries Aircraft?
Korea Aerospace Industries has established one of the most diverse export portfolios among non-Western combat aircraft manufacturers. From the T-50i trainers delivered to Indonesia in 2011 to the FA-50PL combat aircraft now being delivered to Poland, KAI’s export footprint spans six regions and nine customer nations. Total confirmed export contract value exceeds USD 6.6 billion.
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Confirmed Export Contracts
| Buyer | Platform | Year | Units | Value | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | T-50i | 2011 | 16 | ~USD 400M | Complete |
| Iraq | T-50IQ | 2013 | 24 | ~USD 1.1B | Complete |
| Thailand | T-50TH | 2015 | 12 | ~USD 400M | Complete |
| Philippines | FA-50 (Batch 1) | 2014 | 12 | ~USD 420M | Complete |
| Philippines | FA-50GF (Batch 2) | 2023 | 18 | ~USD 920M | Ongoing |
| Poland | FA-50PL | 2022 | 48 | ~USD 3.0B | Ongoing |
| Indonesia | KT-1B | 2003 | 7 | ~USD 35M | Complete |
| Peru | KT-1P | 2013 | 20 | ~USD 208M | Complete |
| Senegal | KT-1 | 2015 | 4 | ~USD 30M | Complete |
| Turkmenistan | KT-1T | 2019 | 12 | ~USD 80M | Complete |
| **Total** | **~173** | **~USD 6.6B+** |
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Key Export Success Factors
1. Price-performance: FA-50 and T-50 offer significantly lower unit costs than top-tier Western platforms.
2. Rapid delivery: KAI demonstrated exceptional delivery speed on the FA-50PL contract.
3. Technology transfer packages: Some contracts include manufacturing knowledge or MRO capacity support.
4. Political flexibility: South Korea imposes fewer political conditions on arms sales than major Western suppliers.
5. Lockheed Martin association: The T-50 family’s LM co-development heritage reassures buyers familiar with US systems.
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FAQ
What is KAI’s largest export contract?
The Poland FA-50PL contract (48 aircraft, ~USD 3 billion), signed in 2022.
Has KAI sold to any NATO members?
Yes. Poland’s FA-50PL contract makes KAI one of the very few Asian-origin manufacturers to sell combat aircraft to a NATO member state.
Sources: KAI | DAPA | SIPRI | Polish MoD | Philippines DND | Defense News
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