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Michael Punongbayan - The Philippine Star
June 15, 2025 | 12:00am
Workers assemble an FA-50 ordered by the Philippines at a Korea Aerospace Industries factory in South Korea in this file photo. In 2014, KAI concluded a deal with the Philippines to export 12 FA-50 units. The Philippines will be acquiring 12 FA-50 Block 70 light attack aircraft.
STAR / File
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is acquiring 12 more FA-50 fighter jets for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Department of National Defense (DND) confirmed yesterday.
Worth about $700 million, the delivery of the aircraft will be carried out in phases over the next five years, with full completion targeted by 2030.
The FA-50 Block 70 light combat fighter jets will be built by Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. of the Republic of Korea, DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong said.
Andolong said the FA-50 Block 70 represents the latest evolution of the FA-50 platform, featuring advanced avionics, modern radar systems and extended operational range.
“Its acquisition marks a significant enhancement to the country’s air defense capabilities and aligns with the DND’s Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept,” he added.
The latest acquisition, which will add to the current 11 similar fighter aircraft of the Philippine Air Force, forms part of the AFP modernization program.
A Notice to Proceed was issued earlier this month, formalizing the contract. The deliverables include mission equipment, integrated logistics support and a training and logistics information system.
Andolong said the acquisition underscores the Philippine government’s continued commitment to national defense and further strengthens bilateral defense cooperation with the Republic of Korea.
In March 2014, the DND awarded KAI with a P18.9-billion contract for 12 units of FA-50 fighter jets, which were used during the 2017 Marawi siege.
Presently, only 11 aircraft remain after one of them crashed in Bukidnon last March 4 following a tactical nighttime operation in support of government troops against communist insurgents. The two pilots onboard died in the crash.
The PAF attributed the crash to a “confluence of factors, including the inherent risk of night flying in mountainous terrain combined with the complexity of multi-aircraft combat operations.”
