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Philippines buys 12 more fighter jets

Philippines | National

Philippines buys 12 more fighter jets

By Aaron Recuenco

photo: Philippine Air Force

photo: Philippine Air Force

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will soon have additional fighter jets in its fleet as the Department of National Defense (DND) is buying 12 more FA-50PH Fighting Eagles from South Korea.

In a statement, the 5th Fighter Wing of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said it already signed a contract with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for the 12 fighter jets at $700 million.

“The procurement will further enhance the capabilities of the Philippine Air Force,” the statement read.

The Philippine government has started the aggressive modernization program following the April 2012 Scarborough standoff between Philippines and Chinese forces.

Part of the modernization was the procurement of the first batch of the Philippines fighter jets, the FA-50 also from South Korea.

Only 11 of the 12 procured under the Aquino administration as one of them crashed in Mindanao.

PAF's 5th Fighter Wing said the procurement agreement includes not only the aircraft but also comprehensive logistics support.

“The new FA-50PH units are expected to feature significant upgrades, such as air-to-air refueling capability, advanced radar systems, and enhanced weapon integration, with deliveries expected to be completed by 2030,” the statement read.

“The FA-50PH has proven its versatility and reliability in various operations, and this expansion underscores the Philippines' commitment to modernizing its defense forces and strengthening regional security,” it added.

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