KAI seals $700 mn FA-50 fighter jet export deal with the Philippines

Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) on Tuesday signed a $700 million contract to supply 12 FA-50 fighter jets to the Philippines, marking the largest defense supply deal for South Korea this year, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

The deal follows an earlier contract with the Philippines in March 2014, when it agreed to purchase a batch of 12 FA-50 aircraft. They have been delivered in stages.

The FA-50PH is a customized variant of the FA-50 light combat aircraft. The FA-50 is a multirole fighter jointly developed by KAI and US defense contractor Lockheed Martin based on the T-50 advanced trainer platform. 

The Philippines has become South Korea’s largest defense export market in Southeast Asia, purchasing a total of $3 billion worth of defense systems from the country over the past decade, including this contract.

DAPA said the latest deal will help expand military exchange programs between the two countries and contribute to the region’s security.

KAI, the country’s sole military aircraft manufacturer, has exported more than 140 units of FA-50 to six countries: the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Iraq and Poland.

The FA-50 export agreement on Tuesday marked the first overseas supply deal for the combat jets since a 2023 contract to deliver 18 units to Malaysia.

The light fighter flies at speeds of up to Mach 1.5 and is capable of conducting a wide range of combat missions under diverse conditions. It is equipped with tactical datalink systems, precision-guided munitions capability and night operation functions.

It also features a radar warning receiver and a countermeasure dispensing system to evade incoming missiles, enhancing its survivability in contested airspace.

Write to Yeonhee Kim at yhkim@hankyung.com
 

Jennifer Nicholson-Breen edited this article.