Published 1:12 PM, March 29, 2017 Updated 1:39 PM, March 29, 2017
PH Air Force now has 8 FA-50 fighter jets
Four more FA50s are expected to arrive in the next months
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Wednesday, March 29, formally received the 4th batch of FA-50 lead-in fighter trainers from South Korea.
The arrival of two more jets puts the total number of FA-50s in the PAF inventory at 8. Four more will arrive in the next months to complete the PAF's squadron of 12 fighter jets.
The FA-50 is technically a figher trainer but the PAF acquired them to perform multiple roles. They have been deployed for surgical airstrikes against local terrorists in Mindanao.
The jets were acquired for P18 billion by the previous administration, one of two big-ticket items as the country embarked on a modest modernization.
The Philippine Navy also acquired two brand new warships from South Korea, also for about P18 billion.
The acquisition of the FA-50s marked the PAF's return to the supersonic age a decade after retiring the last of its US-made F5 fighter jets in 2005. (READ: PH Air Force a joke no more, gets fighter jets)
아래 동영상은 중간 기착지인 대만 카오슝 공항의 FA-50 이륙 영상입니다.
대만인들도 FA-50에 아주 관심이 많은 모양입니다. 갈 때마다 동영상과 사진을 찍어서 올려주네요.
(참조-대만기술진이 참여해서 개발했으니 은혜 갚으라고 생떼쓰고, 미국 T-X사업에서는 FA-50이 탈락하기를 학수고대하시는, 어느 대만 화교분께서는 반응을 자제해주시길 바랍니다.)
Philippines Air Force FA-50 (PH007 PH008) Takeoff From RCKH/KHH (Mar.29.2017)