Jamaine Punzalan

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) ground crew inspect a pair of newly arrived FA-50 multirole light fighter aircraft delivered to the Philippine Air Force shortly after landing at the Clark Air Base in Angeles City, Pampanga province, north of Manila on November 28, 2015. Ted Aljibe, AFP/File

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749021722921AFP__20151128__Hkg10234408__v1__Preview__PhilippinesSkoreaChinaMilitaryDiplomacy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) ground crew inspect a pair of newly arrived FA-50 multirole light fighter aircraft delivered to the Philippine Air Force shortly after landing at the Clark Air Base in Angeles City, Pampanga province, north of Manila on November 28, 2015. Ted Aljibe, AFP/File</div>The Philippines has signed a contract for 12 more FA-50 fighter jets, its South Korean manufacturer said Wednesday, three months after one of the planes crashed during a mission against communist rebels.Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) valued the deal with the Department of National Defense at $700 million, with delivery of the jets to be completed by 2030.The Philippines, which has yet to confirm the pact, previously purchased a dozen of the light warplanes in 2014.In a statement, the South Korean firm said the fighter jets would feature enhanced capabilities including &quot;aerial refueling for extended range, (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar, and advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons systems&quot;.One of the Philippines&#x27; original fleet of FA-50s went missing on March 4 while on a mission to provide air support for troops fighting guerrillas in a mountainous area of the southern island of Mindanao.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/5/philippine-rescuers-search-for-missing-fighter-crew-1105">Missing fighter jet, crew found in Bukidnon mountain</a></div>Rescuers found the wreckage of the plane and the bodies of two crewmen a day later.After temporarily grounding the fleet, the Philippine Air Force <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/4/8/mechanical-error-ruled-out-in-fatal-fa-50-crash-in-bukidnon-1536">ruled out any mechanical problems</a> with the aircraft.Air Force spokeswoman Maria Consuelo Castillo told a press conference in April that a confluence of factors had contributed to the crash, including mountainous terrain and visibility issues.Castillo said in March that the purchase of additional FA-50s was under consideration by the defense department.

The Philippines has signed a contract for 12 more FA-50 fighter jets, its South Korean manufacturer said Wednesday, three months after one of the planes crashed during a mission against communist rebels.

The Philippines has signed a contract for 12 more FA-50 fighter jets, its South Korean manufacturer said Wednesday, three months after one of the planes crashed during a mission against communist rebels.

Philippines signs deal for 12 fighter jets: S. Korea manufacturer

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Philippines signs deal for 12 fighter jets: S. Korea manufacturer

Agence France-Presse

Published Jun 04, 2025 03:24 PM PHT

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Updated Jun 04, 2025 03:47 PM PHT

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