The Philippines has finalized a contract to acquire an additional 12 FA-50 light fighter aircraft from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). The $700 million agreement follows an incident earlier this year in which one of the country’s existing jets crashed during a counter-insurgency mission.
KAI confirmed the deal on Wednesday, stating the aircraft will be delivered by 2030. These upgraded fighters will come equipped with aerial refueling capabilities, Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, and advanced weapon systems for both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat. The Philippine government has not yet issued an official statement on the purchase.
The country had previously ordered 12 FA-50s back in 2014. The new order is expected to boost the Philippine Air Force’s operational strength, especially in light of the March 4 crash in Mindanao, where a jet went down during operations against communist rebels.
