FA-50 Fighting Eagle: fighter or not a fighter?

[Shin_kazama]

Its been a long while since i last posted here.

 

Well i missed this place...

 

 

I would like some input from you guys here who are actual pilots in the military that you worked for.

 

 

Do you consider the FA-50 Fighting Eagle aircraft by Korean Aerospace Industries a LIGHT MULTIROLE FIGHTER?

 

Or just a LIGHT COMBAT AIRCRAFT?

 

 

I have been In A discussion with someone that claims the KAI FA-50 since it was based off a Trainer (KAI T-50) that has Fighter capability(tip raiks for any AIM-9/PYTHON) and Ground strike capability(PGMs, AGM65 capability), though limited compared to other fighter slightly bigger than it, Can not be termed as a "Fighter"

 

 

 

Would that be even correct guys?

 

Or should it be considered as a Light Fighter, since it has limited capacity to kill other planes?

 

 

 

Thanks for all your input...

[ilwzwb]

For south koreans, it is a fighter, is the national star product... For Americans, it is the trainer╮(￣▽￣)╭

[fallenphoenix1986]

Not a pilot but an engineer - its a light fighter, same league as the F-5 and Sea Harrier, maybe even the F-16A.

 

Edit - just read its planned to integrate the Amraam - 21st century answer to the F-5/T-38

 

Craig

Edited June 29, 2016 by fallenphoenix1986

[Toryu]

 

 

Do you consider the FA-50 Fighting Eagle aircraft by Korean Aerospace Industries a LIGHT MULTIROLE FIGHTER?

 

Or just a LIGHT COMBAT AIRCRAFT?

 

There isn't much of a difference.

Today's fighters have enough software- and weapons-integration to call them "multirole". The boundaries are blurring.

The T-50 (FA-50) has enough fighter-genes to make it a serious opponent. Bolt on a helmet-visor and all-aspect thrust-vector heaters, and you'll have a very serious opponent.

The only uncertainty left is pilot training, which is the most important factor after all.

 

Bottom line: Much of the wording is just plain marketing.

[Shin_kazama]

Thanks again for the input. i have just used your inputs to silence someone who views the F-5 and the FA-50 variant as mere trainers

[+JediMaster]

If it's got only one seat, it's not a trainer.