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| JET AGE – One of two FA-50H fighter jets is shown parked at the tarmac of the Clark Freeport runway after delivery by South Korea’s Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI). (Jonas Reyes | Manila Bulletin File Photo) |
Finally, the FA-50 acquisition is already a done deal! If we could remember President Duterte last year said that the FA-50 is a "pang ceremonial flyby only", but thankfully the President changed his views regarding our jet fighter(s)/trainer(s) which is the FA-50.
According to the Department of National Defense and Armed Forces of the Philippines the FA-50 is a Lead In Fighter Trainer (LIFT)/Surface Attack Aircraft (SAA)/Trainer/Fighter, primarily we acquired the FA-50 as a LIFT but because it is the FA-50 the Light Combat Aircraft variant technically speaking it could function as a Light Combat Aircraft/Light Multi-Role Fighter therefore it will be used as one by the Philippine Air Force (PAF).
The President also showed interest in acquiring additional 12 FA-50 LCA from South Korea, hopefully making our FA-50 fleet 24 or two squadrons after the term of President Duterte.
Our real goal in acquiring the FA-50 is to prepare our pilots for our Multi-Role Fighter acquisition (Jas-39, F-16, F-18, and the like) it is suppose to be the TA-50 (a dedicated LIFT) but because we lack jet fighters during the term of Ex-President Aquino the Aquino administration decided to acquire the FA-50 instead as a dual bladed sword jet fighter/trainer acquisition through a government to government deal along with the government of South Korea and the manufacturer Korean Aerospace Industry (KAI).
The FA-50 aircraft can carry a weapons load of up to 4.5 tons. The aircraft can be armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles, AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground tactical missiles (AGM), GBU-38/B Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), CBU-105 Sensor Fused Weapon (SFW), Mk-82 Low Drag General Purpose (LDGP) bombs and Cluster Bomb Units (CBUs). www.airforce-technology
"The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said the final batch of two FA-50PH training aircraft from South Korea will arrive at Clark Airbase, Pampanga on Wednesday.
According to the Department of National Defense and Armed Forces of the Philippines the FA-50 is a Lead In Fighter Trainer (LIFT)/Surface Attack Aircraft (SAA)/Trainer/Fighter, primarily we acquired the FA-50 as a LIFT but because it is the FA-50 the Light Combat Aircraft variant technically speaking it could function as a Light Combat Aircraft/Light Multi-Role Fighter therefore it will be used as one by the Philippine Air Force (PAF).
The President also showed interest in acquiring additional 12 FA-50 LCA from South Korea, hopefully making our FA-50 fleet 24 or two squadrons after the term of President Duterte.
Our real goal in acquiring the FA-50 is to prepare our pilots for our Multi-Role Fighter acquisition (Jas-39, F-16, F-18, and the like) it is suppose to be the TA-50 (a dedicated LIFT) but because we lack jet fighters during the term of Ex-President Aquino the Aquino administration decided to acquire the FA-50 instead as a dual bladed sword jet fighter/trainer acquisition through a government to government deal along with the government of South Korea and the manufacturer Korean Aerospace Industry (KAI).
The FA-50 aircraft can carry a weapons load of up to 4.5 tons. The aircraft can be armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles, AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground tactical missiles (AGM), GBU-38/B Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), CBU-105 Sensor Fused Weapon (SFW), Mk-82 Low Drag General Purpose (LDGP) bombs and Cluster Bomb Units (CBUs). www.airforce-technology
The aircraft is also mounted with an internal, three-barrel 20mm Gatling gun and LAU-3/A 19-tube 2.75" rocket launcher for firing Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets (FFAR). The wide range of weapon systems aboard the FA-50 allows it to counter multiple threats in today's complex battlefield scenario. www.airforce-technology.com
"The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said the final batch of two FA-50PH training aircraft from South Korea will arrive at Clark Airbase, Pampanga on Wednesday.
Air Force spokesman Col. Antonio Francisco, said the final batch of FA-50PH Fighter/Surface Attack/Lead-in Fighters Training Aircraft with tail numbers 011 and 012 from South Korea will arrive before noon at the Haribon Hangar, Air Force City, Clark Air Base, Pampanga.
Francisco said the commander of the Air Logistics Command, Maj. Gen. Arnold A. Mancita, will be the guest of honor during the turnover ceremony.
Francisco said the blessing of the said aircraft will immediately follow.
Francisco said the final batch of the FA-50PH training aircraft will be brought into the country by pilots from the Korean Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI).
The first batch of supersonic jets arrived in the country on November 28, 2015.
Francisco said the arrival of the planes is expected to further strengthen or boost the PAF’s air capabilities, including the training of their personnel.
“The planes will also help boost the training capabilities of our pilots, it will also be used for training purposes so that our pilots will acquire more skills in flying fighter jets or supersonic jets,” he said.
This arrival of the planes is part of the PAF’s purchase of 12 fighter jets worth P18.9 billion from Korea Aerospace Industries.
The PAF said the FA-50 PH has a top speed of Mach 1.5 or one-and-a-half times the speed of sound and is capable to be fitted with air-to-air missiles.
The missiles include the AIM-9 “Sidewinder” air-to-air and heat-seeking missiles."
Source: mb.com
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