Camille Naredo

Two PAF FA-50 fighter aircraft in formation with two U.S. PACAF B-1 aircraft during the joint Air Patrols and Air Intercept Training over the West Philippine Sea on February 4, 2025.  Courtesy of Philippine Airforce

Article (news)

WEST PH SEA- Airforce

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175014657219720250204-west-ph-sea-PAF002.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Two PAF FA-50 fighter aircraft in formation with two U.S. PACAF B-1 aircraft during the joint Air Patrols and Air Intercept Training over the West Philippine Sea on February 4, 2025.  Courtesy of Philippine Airforce"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Two PAF FA-50 fighter aircraft in formation with two U.S. PACAF B-1 aircraft during the joint Air Patrols and Air Intercept Training over the West Philippine Sea on February 4, 2025.  <em>Courtesy of Philippine Air Force</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- The Philippine government&#x27;s acquisition of twelve more FA-50 light combat aircraft will not diminish the chances of acquiring other multi-role fighters (MRF) as these are different platforms that would enhance the Philippine Air Force&#x27;s (PAF) fleet.</p><p>&quot;Of course, the plans or the proposal to acquire multi-role jet fighters is still pending and is still part of our plans because we still need more,&quot; PAF spokesperson Colonel Ma. Consuelo Castillo told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.</p><p>&quot;In spite of these 12 additional FA-50s, we would still be needing more fighter aircraft because we have a very wide archipelagic area to protect and monitor,&quot; she added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/14/ph-buys-12-fa-50-block-70-light-combat-aircraft-from-south-korea-0946">READ: PH buys 12 FA-50 Block 70 light combat aircraft from South Korea</a></div><p>In April, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said the military is keeping all options available for its MRF acquisition.</p><p>The United States-made FA-16 from Lockheed Martin and the Swedish Saab&#x27;s JAS-39 Gripen are among those being studied.</p><p>According to Castillo, aside from &quot;better capabilities&quot;, the budget is also a big consideration.</p><p>&quot;Right now, what we are looking at for multi-role fighters is definitely better capabilities than what we currently have in our inventory. So, we&#x27;re looking at longer range, better firepower, among others. Definitely, the best we can have for the budget available,&quot; Castillo explained.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FA-50 BLOCK 70 LIGHT COMBAT AIRCRAFT</strong></div><p>The Department of National Defense (DND) on Saturday announced the acquisition of 12 FA-50 Block 70 light combat aircraft from the Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd. (KAI) as part of Horizon 3 of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program.</p><p>A Notice to Proceed was issued earlier this month, formalizing the contract valued at over USD 700 million.</p><p>Aside from the mission equipment and integrated logistics support, the comprehensive package also includes a training and logistics information system.</p><p>&quot;The efforts of the Air Force, whenever we have pending acquisitions, we already prepare for them ahead of time. So, the procurement of pilots, new pilots are ongoing. The upgrades of our current pilots are also ongoing. We are going to make sure that we have enough pilots to fly those new FA-50s once they come,&quot; Castillo noted.</p><p>She went on, &quot;Aside from that, part of the training or the package for the acquisition is the training program for pilots because of the new systems that is in place with this newer model of the FA-50s.&quot;</p><p>This is the second time the DND acquired the FA-50 aircraft from KAI.</p><p>However, only 11 of the 12 units delivered from 2015 to 2017 are operable as the FA-50 aircraft with tail number &quot;002&quot; crashed during a tactical night operation in Bukidnon last March 4, killing the two pilots on board.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/5/philippine-rescuers-search-for-missing-fighter-crew-1105">READ: Missing fighter jet, crew found in Bukidnon mountain</a></div><p>The new FA-50 Block 70 jets represent the latest evolution of the FA-50 platform, featuring advanced avionics, modern radar systems and extended operational range.</p><p>Asked if there are plans to upgrade the PAF&#x27;s existing FA-50 fleet to the latest and most advanced variant, Castillo answered: &quot;Right now, we don&#x27;t have specific details regarding that yet, the possible upgrade of the current fleet. But, definitely, if the time comes that we need to upgrade the systems to be at par with this newer model, we&#x27;re going to plan for this.&quot;</p><p>The delivery of the new aircraft will be carried out in phases over the next five years, with full completion targeted by 2030.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1nB_BGdgIQE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Philippine government's acquisition of twelve more FA-50 light combat aircraft will not diminish the chances of acquiring other multi-role fighters (MRF) as these are different platforms that would enhance the Philippine Air Force's (PAF) fleet.</p>

The Philippine government's acquisition of twelve more FA-50 light combat aircraft will not diminish the chances of acquiring other multi-role fighters (MRF) as these are different platforms that would enhance the Philippine Air Force's (PAF) fleet.

'We need more': PH Air Force says acquisition of multi-role fighters still part of plans

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'We need more': PH Air Force says acquisition of multi-role fighters still part of plans

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 17, 2025 03:51 PM PHT

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Philippine Air Force

multi-role fighters

FA-50 Block 70 light combat aircraft

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