The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), through its spokesman BGen. Restituto Padilla, confirmed in an interview on March 22, 2017, that Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) will be completing the delivery of all FA-50PH Fighting Eagle lead-in fighter trainer / light combat aircraft by May 2017.

This is far earlier than the agreed delivery date based on the contract signed between the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and KAI, which stated that the delivery will be completed by December 2017. Originally, the contract stated that the first 2 units will be delivered before end of 2015, another 2 before end of 2016, and 2 units every 3 months from thereafter. The second batch was delivered on November 2016, so 3 months for the 3rd batch is February 2017 (which already happened), while the 4th batch was supposed to be on May 2017, and so forth.

Fortunately, KAI is indeed delivering the aircraft faster than expect, as it intends to clear its production line to start the assembly of new orders coming from the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) and the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), which ordered four T-50s for its lead-in fighter training requirements.

Aside from the information on the advanced deliveries, BGen. Padilla also mentioned that there is interest from the Philippine Air Force to acquire more FA-50s from KAI, particularly six (6) units, subject to approval from the government.

While this appears to be good news, the plan to acquire more FA-50s, originally dubbed as the Fighter/Surface Attack Aircraft/Lead-in Fighter Trainer (F/SAA/LIFT) project, was already in the works since the Philippine Air Force started planning for their Horizons 2 & 3 phases of the AFP Modernization Program.

Based on the latest versions of the PAF's Horizon 2 phase request submitted to the Department of National Defense for approval and funding, the PAF is actually looking to acquire at least six (6) units more, but preferably wanted twelve (12) more units to bring the total FA-50s to twenty four (24) units by the end of Horizon 2 phase. This would enable the PAF to have at least two (2) squadrons of FA-50PH Fighting Eagles which could be used for interdiction, ground attack, and lead-in fighter training for future Multi-Role Fighters.

유튜브 필리핀 밀리 전문 사이트인데, 뉴스의 정확한 출처는 나오지 않네요.

근데 필리핀의 FA-50 추가검토 뉴스는 최근 여러 차례 나온 바 크게 의심할

필요는 없을 듯 합니다.