South Korea Completes 12 FA-50PH Light Attack Aircraft Delivery To Philippines

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has completed the delivery of 12 FA-50PH light attack aircraft to the Philippines.

The 12 FA-50PH light attack aircraft were delivered three months earlier than scheduled. Further, the company hopes that the Southeast Asian country will place an additional order in the future, Yonhap News Agency reported Tuesday.

Philippine will consider purchasing another 12 FA-50PH aircraft during his six-year term that began June 30 last year, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said at an event held in the Philippines. The event was held to celebrate the deployment of the attack aircraft to its air force Tuesday.

In 2014, KAI received a US$420 million order to build the planes that can perform light attack and aerial combat roles from the Philippine Air Force. The planes are designed to take over the role of the F-5 fighters that were retired in the mid 2000s.

The FA-50PH light attack aircraft shares the platform with the T-50 advanced trainer jet. If the T-50 is equipped with weapons, it turns into an attack aircraft.

The Philippine government which seeks to modernize its military has also expressed interest in purchasing the KUH-1 Surion transport helicopter.

KAI has exported a total of 137 KT-1 basic trainers and the T-50 advanced trainer jets valued at $3.4 billion to seven countries such as Indonesia, Turkey, Peru and the Philippines.

The company is in talks with Thailand, Botswana and the United States to export the trainer jets. Later this year, the U.S. plans to select an aircraft company to supply it with 350 trainer jets worth some 17 trillion won ($15 billion), the aircraft manufacturer said.

In the following 50 years, KAI predicts the advanced trainer jet market will grow to 100 trillion won.