[Source/Observation Network by Mountain Cat]

Not long after the Philippines Defense Minister publicly stated that they had not purchased F-16s, the Philippines again ordered 12 FA-50s from South Korea, which is also the second purchase of FA-50s by the Philippines since 2014.

According to comprehensive reports from South Korean media, South Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) announced today that the Philippine Department of National Defense signed a contract with them on the 3rd to purchase an additional 12 FA-50 fighter jets. The contract amount is $700 million (approximately RMB 5.0333 billion), which includes the price of the aircraft itself and logistics support. These 12 aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2030.

On June 3rd, South Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and the Philippine government officially signed the contract for the additional purchase of 12 FA-50 fighter jets. KAI Strategic Director Choi Jong-won (name phonetic), President Kang Gu-young (name phonetic), and Philippine Deputy Defense Minister Misong Hawke and Assistant Deputy Minister Honasan Retana, who were responsible for procurement, took a photo together at the signing ceremony. The KAI also presented the Philippine side with a KF-21 fighter jet model.

Relevant reports from the Chosun Ilbo stated that according to the contract signed this time, the improved second batch of FA-50PHs will increase air-to-air refueling capability, replace active electronically scanned array radar, and improve the range of air-to-ground and air-to-air weapons to enhance detection and strike capabilities.

In late December 2012, the FA-50 was selected in the Philippine Air Force's light attack trainer aircraft bidding process. On March 28, 2014, the Philippine Ministry of Defense and the South Korean government formally signed the purchase agreement for the first batch of 12 aircraft. The contract amount at that time was $420 million (approximately RMB 2.5826 billion based on the exchange rate at that time). This was the third successful overseas export order for the T-50 advanced trainer aircraft and its derivative models (the previous two were the T-50i purchased by Indonesia and the T-50IQ by the Iraqi Air Force).

The FA-50 exported to the Philippines was developed based on the South Korean Air Force's self-use type FA-50 light combat attack aircraft, named FA-50PH. The first FA-50PH made its maiden flight in June 2015 and was delivered to the Philippines between 2015 and 2017. Due to pricing issues for upgrades and modifications, most do not have mid-range air-to-air combat capabilities.

(Material picture) A light fighter of the Philippine Air Force FA-50PH, the No. 15-002 aircraft crashed earlier this year, resulting in the deaths of both pilots.

All Philippine Air Force FA-50PHs are deployed in the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 5th Fighter Wing, stationed at the Basa Air Base near Floridablanca City in Pampanga Province. As the only jet fighter currently in the Philippine Air Force, the FA-50 participated in the battle in Marawi City, Mindanao shortly after delivery, and has subsequently conducted joint training and exercises with air forces from countries such as the United States. In 2024, it flew to Darwin Air Base in Australia to participate in the "Pitch Black 2024" multinational air force exercise.

On the night of March 3rd this year, a Philippine Air Force FA-50PH lost contact while conducting "anti-insurgency operations" in northern Mindanao. The incident involved aircraft number 15-002, which was the second aircraft delivered by South Korea to the Philippines. The plane crashed about 40 nautical miles from the target area in the Pantaron Mountains of Bukidnon Province. On March 5th, ground personnel found the wreckage of the crashed aircraft, and it was confirmed that both pilots died in the accident.

This article is an exclusive article of the Observation Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7511999310066680331/

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