Pion-induced reactions were studied with the FOPI detector at an incident momentum of 1.15 GeV/c. Data were taken for five different targets: C, Al, Cu, Sn and Pb. A preliminary comparison of the phase-space distribution of the reconstructed K⁰_S to the results of the IQMD transport-model calculations, as well as the preliminary study of the scaling behavior of the inclusive \pi ^-A \rightarrow K⁰ X cross--section as a function of the mass of the target nucleus is reported. A preliminary estimate of the elementary \pi ^-p \rightarrow K⁰ Y cross section in the presence of the surrounding nuclear medium is discussed.

PACS numbers: 25.80.Hp, 25.60.Dz, 25.40.Ve