Korean Job Discussion Forums

[AfroBurrito]

http://thediplomat.com/2014/05/south-korea-asias-new-powerhouse-arms-exporter/

Thoughts?

[SeoulNate]

About what? Korea making knockoff russian fighter jets with a 40 year old design? Sounds impressive...

[ttompatz]

[RangerMcGreggor]

[SeoulNate]

The point wasn't about the quality so much as it was the copying and passing it off as something it isn't.

[ttompatz]

[SeoulNate]

... so, as I said, the joke was meant to target the copied nature of the plane/design.. which has been confirmed a few times over.

internet humor

Either way, I got a pretty solid laugh out of the youtube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXauYBgqnHw

the steps seem to be:

1. Pay Korean writer to make English script
2. Hire american/Canadian voice actor that sounds like a radio advertisement
3. Insist that he read the script verbatim (with standard Korean-English tense/article mistakes)
4. Profit from countries with no need of air defence.

[Fox]

[Stan Rogers]

Koreans make stuff. This is just another thing they make. What's the big deal?

[SeoulNate]

[atwood]

[RangerMcGreggor]

[Steelrails]

Well, the Korean Arms industry is in its infancy and obviously there have been some teething problems as well as some successes. In terms of clear successes I think you have to look at the K-9 SPA system, the KT-1 trainer, and yes, the TA/50. As far as failures go, I think the K2, although on paper possibly one of the finest tanks in the world, is stuck at the plant due to problems with its transmission. If there is anything where the Koreans have really put together a world class combat system, it is in their Sejong the Great-class destroyers, which are really cruisers. However, they are not exporting those ships.

As far as the T/A-50 goes, one has to remember what kind of aircraft it is- It is a dual tandem advanced trainer. It's not supposed to be the greatest thing flying in the air. It is supposed to be cheap to operate and integrate well with NATO systems and make it easy for pilots to transition to the F-16 and other fighters. Obviously, with that in mind, in many respects IT IS GOING TO COPY THE F-16. THAT'S THE BLOODY POINT OF THE AIRCRAFT. T/A-50 pilots need to step into the cockpit of an F-16 and have things be familiar for them. As far as the F/A-50 variant, its purpose is to primarily serve as a trainer and to function as basically a reserve fighter/attack (probably attack) aircraft in the unlikely event of a full-scale conflict. It's more meant to do things like shoot down enemy helicopters or other attack aircraft that have penetrated or even more likely, drop bombs on rebel/Nork positions and the like.

Of course, how good an aircraft, tank, or warship these days has as much to do with things like avionics, fire control, radar, electronic warfare, battlefield integration, etc. That and pilot training.

Anyways, cheesy promo videos aside, the aircraft has shown itself to be appealing to at least a few buyers. It's basically a trial run for Korea in this. They probably weren't expecting a world-beater and were anticipating a loss. It's as much about building up experience and domestic expertise as it is producing a great export product.

[atwood]

Listen to the former pilot.

Oops, I mean the former pilot's pal. And avid reader of aviation publications. Attendee of air shows.

Then there's TV:

[Weigookin74]

Those F 35s. Don't know what to make of those. Wish more countries could have signed onto the F 22s instead. The F 35s seem to be going down the road of a boondoggle, plus only one engine? Yikes! Anyhow, this f 18 copy is prob the best deal for the Phillipines considering the reasons they'll need it. If China attacks, it ain't going to matter what they've got in their arsenal anyhow.