By Priam Nepomuceno
MANILA – The Philippines has signed a contract calling for the delivery of 12 additional units of Korea Aerospace Industries’ (KAI) Mach 1.5 capable FA-50 fighters jets, South Korean media reported Wednesday.
The contract, which is worth 1 trillion won (around USD700 million dollars or PHP40 billion), was signed by ranking officials of the Department of National Defense (DND) and KAI on June 3, according to a report by business news website ChosunBiz.
It added the contract also includes logistical support. Deliveries are expected from 2026 to 2030.
The report said these FA-50 aircraft are the more improved version of the FA-50PHs currently in service with the Philippine Air Force (PAF).
The DND has yet to confirm this information from South Korean media reports.
The PAF has acquired 12 FA-50s from the KAI for PHP18.9 billion under the AFP Modernization Program.
The delivery of the aircraft began in 2015 and was completed in 2017.
One of the FA-50s, with tail number 002, crashed this March 4 in Bukidnon while enroute to provide firepower to Army soldiers fighting New People’s Army rebels. Both pilots were killed in the mishap.
Earlier, the PAF said proposals to acquire additional FA-50s are under the Rehorizon 3 of the Armed Forces Modernization Program.
The FA-50PHs have a top speed of Mach 1.5 or one and a half times the speed of sound, and is capable of being fitted with air-to-air missiles, including the AIM-9 “Sidewinder” air-to-air and heat-seeking missiles aside from light automatic cannons and bombs.
The aircraft had its baptism of fire during the Battle for Marawi, where it was extensively used in the air role, in the fighting that raged from May to October 2017. (PNA)
