Summary The KAI T-50 Golden Eagle is a supersonic-advanced trainer and light combat aircraft by South Korea. The Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano is a light attack and counter-insurgency aircraft used by 16 air forces globally. The Hongdu JL-8, a joint Sino-Pakistani project, provides cost-effective combat aircraft capabilities to various air forces worldwide.
While most attention goes to the world's top fighter jets like the F-35, F-22, Su-34, Rafale, J-20, etc., this often glosses over the world's fleets of light combat aircraft. Fighter jets are often too expensive and even excessive for the needs of many air forces around the world.
While an F-35 may be needed to attack a peer adversary, it is overkill for many insurgent or armed trafficking groups around the world. Ukraine has even recently found a use for propeller Yk-52 trainers machine-gunning down Russian drones over Ukraine . Here are five notable light combat aircraft.
1 KAI T-50 Golden Eagle The Golden Eagle has been in service since February 2005 Maiden flight: August 2002 Role: advanced trainer, light fighter, light multirole fighter Manufacturer: Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in South Korea South Korea will soon move into the fighter jet market in a serious way with its KF-21 Boramae . But this advanced fighter builds on the KAI T-50 Golden Eagle - a supersonic advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft. The Golden Eagle is Korea's first indigenous supersonic aircraft and has found a variety of roles.
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