The Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) has formally inducted a squadron of 16 Korean Aerospace T-50i Golden Eagle advanced trainers into service.
In a ceremony attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, the aircraft were handed over to the TNI-AU by the Ministry of Defence on February 13 for service with 15 Squadron at Iswahyudi airbase in Madiun, East Java. The T-50s were ordered in May 2011 at a cost of US$400m (A$443m), and they will replace Hawk Mk53 jets which have been in service since 1980.
The Indonesian T-50s have been equipped with systems similar to those installed on the multi-role F/A-50, albeit without an air intercept radar, although Indonesia reportedly has plans to install a radar at a later date.
