Korea Aerospace Sells 12 FA-50 Fighters to Philippines Worth $700 Million

The Korea  Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA)  announced on Tuesday that an additional export contract for 12 FA-50 light attack aircraft was signed between the Philippine Department of National Defense and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Manila, Philippines.

This contract is worth approximately 700 million dollars (approximately 1 trillion won), and is the largest defense export performance since 2025. The DAPA supports this contract through strategic diplomacy and negotiation, and has opened the door to large-scale K-defense exports this year.

Delivery timelines for the new 12 FA-50 order were not specified in a press release issued by DAPA.

The Philippines has emerged as the largest defense cooperation partner in Southeast Asia, introducing approximately $3 billion worth of Korean defense products over the past 10 years.

In particular, the FA-50 has been the main fighter of the Philippine Air Force since the first 12 aircraft were introduced to the Philippines in 2014, and has demonstrated excellent performance in the Battle of Marawi in 2017 and the Australian Pitch Black joint exercise in 2024. This second introduction contract is expected to further strengthen the operational capabilities of the Philippine Air Force.

This additional contract for the introduction of the FA-50 in the Philippines is expected to contribute to the expansion of military exchanges between the two countries and to the stability of security in Southeast Asia. More than 140 FA-50s have been exported to six countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Iraq, Poland, and Malaysia, proving the competitiveness of K-defense aircraft in the global market.