Monday17 February 2025
vsedelo.com

The Philippines, the only country with combat experience using the FA-50, has decided to double its fleet of these aircraft.

The Philippines is prepared to spend $72 million for a single FA-50, which is, at best, a light fighter aircraft.
Филиппины, единственные с боевым опытом использования FA-50, решили удвоить их количество.

The Philippine Department of Defense has decided to order a second batch of Korean FA-50PH aircraft, which serve as light fighters and attack aircraft in the country's air force.

The new planes will cost $863 million, allowing the country to acquire an additional 12 FA-50PH, thereby doubling their operational fleet. This information comes from the procurement documentation of the defense department, as reported by the publication Inquirer, although the timeline for this order has not been disclosed.

However, as noted by Defense Express, Korea Aerospace Industries has the capacity for relatively rapid production of these aircraft, as evidenced by the example of Poland, which contracted FA-50s in July 2022 and received the first batch of 12 aircraft in December 2023.

Philippine Air Force FA-50PH

It's worth mentioning that the Philippines ordered the first 12 FA-50PH back in early 2014, with those 12 aircraft valued at $421 million. This translates to about $35 million per unit, while the current price of $72 million per unit may reflect an increase in weapon costs over more than a decade. Alternatively, this could pertain to an order for FA-50 Block 20 models, which should be capable of engaging in full air combat and are already equipped as light fighters with AIM-120, provided an agreement can be made with the USA.

Additionally, the Philippines is currently the only country with real combat experience using the FA-50 in battles, although they are far from full-scale war. In 2017, the Philippine Air Force first deployed these aircraft during the so-called battles for the city of Marawi, which was invaded by militants.

Since then, these FA-50s have periodically conducted strikes against various Islamic and communist terrorist groups operating in the country. Discussions about the need to expand the fleet of these aircraft have been ongoing since 2018.

Currently, all 12 FA-50s available will, as of December 28, 2024, be the only combat aircraft representing the Philippine Air Force, which serves a population of 114 million and has an armed force of 146,000. This is due to the fact that at the end of last year, the air force retired its last two OV-10 Bronco attack aircraft.

OV-10 Bronco

To replace them, the country has ordered six Brazilian A-29 Super Tucano propeller aircraft, which are expected to enhance the country's capabilities by 2026 and cost $111 million.