In South Korea, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has announced that Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) has signed a contract with the Ministry of the Philippines for FA-50PH Block 20 light fighter bombers.
The order, worth 700 million dollars, concerns the supply of 12 new FA-50PH Block 20 light fighter bombers to the Philippine Air Force.
Deliveries of the new aircraft will be completed by KAI by 2030; the Philippines previously in 2014 had purchased a first dozen of FA-50PH.
The light combat aircraft derived from the T-50 Golden Eagle advanced trainer has had a good sales success; in fact, after the domestic market, the FA-50 has achieved export successes in the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Iraq where it is operationally employed and in Poland which commissioned 12 FA-50GF Block 10 in basic version and another 36 aircrafts in FA-50PL Block 20 setup that includes a new AESA radar, a new self-protection system, data link 16, and Scorpion Helmet Mounted Display for the pilots, as well as the ability to employ medium-range air-to-air missiles and to perform precision attacks with guided munitions and pods for targeting/recce.
Source Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA)
Photo credit @Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI)
