According to a report by the U.S. defense blog on October 27, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is currently negotiating with the Philippines on the potential procurement of the KF-21 fighter jet.

The report pointed out that during the 2025 Seoul International Aviation and Defense Exhibition, the Republic of Korea Air Force publicly displayed the KF-21 fighter jet, which attracted attention from multiple countries, including the Philippine delegation.

The South Korean side emphasized that the Philippine Air Force has already equipped 12 FA-50 aircraft, and ordered an additional 12 upgraded versions this year, thus being seen as a potential strategic customer.

KAI's head of international business said in an interview that the company will fully support the Philippines in strengthening its air force and is optimistic about the export prospects of the KF-21 in Asian, Middle Eastern, and African markets. This public statement indicates that the two countries are moving toward a higher level of defense cooperation.

Notably, before this, the United States was also pressuring the Philippines to promote its F-16 fighter jet plan. However, due to high prices, the Philippines was scared off and did not take up the offer. Now, the South Korean proposal has become an opportunity for the Philippines to get out of the situation.

Small Marcos

The KF-21 is one of the most important defense projects that South Korea has been pushing in recent years. Its original purpose is a fourth-and-a-half-generation multi-purpose fighter jet, aimed at replacing the Republic of Korea Air Force's current F-4 and F-5 series, and exporting it to Asian and African countries.

The aircraft is developed mainly by KAI, featuring a twin-engine design, modern avionics systems, AESA radar, a certain degree of stealth capability, and strong weapon carrying capacity.

More importantly, the overall design of the KF-21 retains significant room for upgrades. The bomb bay structure can be reserved for future conversion into an internal weapons bay. Stealth coating and sensor fusion levels can also be gradually improved.

South Korea has planned two subsequent versions, Block II and Block III. Among them, Block III will attempt to approach a true fifth-generation aircraft, including internal weapon bays, more thorough radar stealth structures, and the ability for remote coordination with unmanned僚机.

In other words, although the KF-21 is currently a fourth-and-a-half-generation fighter jet, for the buyer, it means that they can first obtain a modern combat platform at a lower budget, and then gradually upgrade it to a fifth-generation aircraft according to strategic needs and financial capabilities in the future.

F16

So for the Philippines, this gives a good excuse to refuse the U.S. proposal. It's not that they don't want to buy the F-16, but mainly because the F-16 is not a fifth-generation aircraft. You don't sell the F-35 either, so I can only go to South Korea, right?

Keep in mind that the U.S. provided an F-16 package worth over $5.5 billion. This price would directly kill the Philippines.

On the other hand, the South Korean KF-21 offers more flexibility, relatively low prices, maintenance systems that are closer to the existing FA-50 fleet of the Philippines, and also gives them a dream of a fifth-generation aircraft.

Currently, negotiations between the Philippines and KAI have started, and multiple rounds of contact have taken place during the defense exhibition.

Although no formal procurement contract has been signed yet, preliminary cooperation frameworks such as aircraft evaluation, maintenance support, and pilot training have been initially formed.

It is reported that the Philippine Air Force has already listed the KF-21 on its preferred list.

Based on the current progress, if the budget approval goes smoothly and the evaluation results are ideal, the Philippines are likely to sign the first KF-21 procurement agreement before 2026.

KF21

However, even if it truly becomes a fifth-generation aircraft in the future, it still cannot match the Chinese Air Force. There are obvious gaps in the equipment itself, let alone the gap in the system level.

Even if the Philippines has a large number of KF-21s, they lack early warning aircraft, unmanned僚机, and electronic warfare platforms, making it difficult to stand in system confrontation.

Moreover, the operational range, personnel training, and maintenance support capabilities of the Philippine Air Force are still in the development stage, lacking the sustained power for high-intensity operations against a major air force.

For the Philippines, the KF-21 is more like a symbol of modernization intentions to show internally or a face-saving project in regional air force comparisons. It is certainly not a strategic lever to change the balance of power in the region, nor can it play a decisive role in conflicts in the South China Sea or East China Sea.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7566117368468881966/

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