Latest news with #FA-50s
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Philippines orders 12 more FA-50 combat jets from South Korea
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines' defense department sealed the order for 12 FA-50 light combat aircraft in a $700 million package with Korea Aerospace Industries, the company said in a statement released Wednesday. The export contract includes 12 FA-50s set to arrive around 2030. The upgraded jets are capable of aerial refueling and will be installed with AESA radars. The deal also includes an undisclosed number of air-to-ground and air-to-air weapons. KAI had previously exported 12 FA-50s to the Air Force in a 2014 export order, which was fulfilled in 2017. One FA-50 aircraft crashed in early March during a counterinsurgency operation in Mindanao in the country's south. The military grounded the FA-50s immediately after the crash but lifted the order after an internal investigation found no mechanical mishap occurred during the operation. Manila has actively purchased frigates, corvettes, aircraft, and weapons from South Korean defense firms to modernize its armed forces. The Philippines was South Korea's second-largest global customer until 2021. KAI expects the orders to open more interest in the aircraft among governments in Europe, the Middle East and South America. The Philippine Air Force currently operates the FA-50 and A-29 Super Tucano turboprop light attack aircraft. The defense department has yet to decide on the country's multirole fighter jet program, which is estimated to be the most expensive acquisition under the final phase of the Horizons military modernization project.
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Philippines signs deal for 12 fighter jets: South Korea manufacturer
Philippine and South Korean FA-50 fighter jets. - Photo: Korean Aerospace Industries MANILA: The Philippines has signed a contract for 12 more FA-50 fighter jets, its South Korean manufacturer said Wednesday (June 4), 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 US$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 "aerial refueling for extended range, (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar, and advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons systems". One of the Philippines' 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. 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 ruled out any mechanical problems 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 defence department. - AFP
Korea Herald
18-03-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Arms agency chief discusses defense industry cooperation with Philippine defense chief
The head of the state arms procurement agency held talks with the Philippine defense chief and other officials in Manila this week to discuss expanding arms industry cooperation, officials said Tuesday. Seok Jong-gun, minister of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, met Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro on Monday, according to DAPA. The Philippines has introduced various South Korean-made weapons systems over the years, including FA-50 light attack aircraft, frigates and corvettes. Seok also held talks with Maj. Gen. Aristotle Gonzalez, vice commander of the Philippine Air Force, DAPA said, noting that the Philippine Air Force said it is reviewing introducing more FA-50s. He also met the Philippines' Navy chief, Vice Adm. Jose Ma Ambrosio Quiatchon Ezpeleta, with the two sides expressing hopes for bilateral cooperation to expand to maintenance, repair and overhaul projects of naval ships, according to DAPA. (Yonhap)
Ammon
05-03-2025
- Ammon
Rescuers find Philippine fighter jet's wreckage and the bodies of 2 pilots deployed to fight rebels
Ammon News - Rescuers found the wreckage of a Philippine fighter jet and the bodies of its two pilots on Wednesday in a mountainous region in the country's south where they had been deployed on a nighttime mission to fight communist guerrillas, military officials said. The FA-50 jet lost communication during the combat mission with other air force aircraft after midnight Tuesday before reaching a target area in southern Bukidnon province. The other aircraft were able to return safely to an air base in central Cebu province after carrying out assaults, military officials said. The FA-50 jet was deployed with other air force aircraft to provide combat support to troops battling dozens of suspected New People's Army guerrillas near Cabanglasan town in Bukidnon, the military said. 'It was a total wreck,' regional military commander Lt. Gen. Luis Rex Bergante said of the fighter jet's wreckage, which he said was found by Filipino special forces in a jungle on Mount Kalatungan in Bukidnon. A regional military spokesperson, Lt. Col. Francisco Garello, said without elaborating that the bodies of the two air force pilots were found near the wreckage. Pilots can eject from the supersonic jets in case they encounter any problems but the Philippine air force said it remained unclear if the two pilots aboard the FA-50 ejected as it plummeted. It was also not immediately clear what caused the crash of the supersonic jet, which was acquired by the Philippine government from a South Korean company about a decade ago. An investigation was underway, the air force said. The rest of the country's 11 FA-50s were grounded following the incident, according to the Philippine air force. AP
Arab Times
05-03-2025
- Arab Times
Rescuers find Philippine fighter jet's wreckage and bodies of 2 pilots deployed to fight rebels
MANILA, Philippines, March 5, (AP): Rescuers found the wreckage of a Philippine fighter jet and the bodies of its two pilots on Wednesday in a mountainous region in the country's south where they had been deployed on a nighttime mission to fight communist guerrillas, military officials said. The FA-50 jet lost communication during the combat mission with other air force aircraft after midnight Tuesday before reaching a target area in southern Bukidnon province. The other aircraft were able to return safely to an air base in central Cebu province after carrying out assaults, military officials said. The FA-50 jet was deployed with other air force aircraft to provide combat support to troops battling dozens of suspected New People's Army guerrillas near Cabanglasan town in Bukidnon, the military said. "It was a total wreck,' regional military commander Lt Gen Luis Rex Bergante said of the fighter jet's wreckage, which he said was found by Filipino special forces in a jungle on Mount Kalatungan in Bukidnon. A regional military spokesperson, Lt Col Francisco Garello, said without elaborating that the bodies of the two air force pilots were found near the wreckage. Pilots can eject from the supersonic jets in case they encounter any problems but the Philippine air force said it remained unclear if the two pilots aboard the FA-50 ejected as it plummeted. It was also not immediately clear what caused the crash of the supersonic jet, which was acquired by the Philippine government from a South Korean company about a decade ago. An investigation was underway, the air force said. The rest of the country's 11 FA-50s were grounded following the incident, according to the Philippine air force. The Philippines acquired 12 FA-50s multi-purpose fighter jets starting in 2015 from South Korea's Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. The 18.9 billion peso ($331 million) contract had been the biggest under a military modernization program that has been repeatedly stalled by a lack of funds. The Philippines has plans to acquire another 12 fighter jets from South Korea. The military estimates about 1,000 communist guerrillas remain after decades of battle setbacks, surrenders and factional fighting. Peace talks brokered by Norway collapsed under previous President Rodrigo Duterte after both sides accused the other of continuing deadly attacks despite the negotiations.
