Korea Aerospace Industries has awarded a contract to Canadian avionics specialist CMC Electronics to modernize the cockpits of the KA-1 advanced trainer, now in service with the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF). The KAI-designed single-engine turboprop aircraft performs advanced mission training and light attack roles.
CMC worked closely with KAI in creating the new cockpit. The modernized workspace is built around CMC’s PU-3000, the world’s first civil-certified multicore mission computer. With its partitioned, embedded software applications, the PU-3000 can integrate several multi-function displays or a single large area display (LAD) as used in the KA-1. The computer’s modular architecture means that it can support multiple avionics applications while maintaining the redundancy required to meet flight-critical function standards.
“This new contract is a timely and strategic development for all parties involved,” said Brad Nolen, CMC’s v-p of sales and marketing. “We believe that the upgraded KA-1 platform with a PU-3000 driven LAD interface will both increase aircraft availability and better prepare ROKAF pilots for their future modernized fleet of KF-X [KF-21} fighters.”
With its new cockpit, the KA-1 will be able to emulate the avionics of advanced fighters, resulting in better and more rapidly trained pilots. Moreover, the computer’s software development kit allows KAI to develop proprietary mission applications by itself.