South Korea has unveiled the first armed version of its T-50 supersonic trainer jet, the Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) has said.

“With the production of the TA-50, the air force can establish lead-in fighter training with homegrown jets,” a DAPA official said.

The TA-50, an armed variant of the nation’s first homegrown trainer jet, is designed as a lead to perform in fighter training missions and light attack roles, and also as a full-fledged attack platform.

The jet can be mounted with precision-guided weapons that include AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and TGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles.

The heavily armed version of the T-50 will be deployed beginning from 2012.