Air Force to receive 2 more fighter planes from South Korea – Defense chief

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Tuesday the Philippine Air Force is set to receive Thursday two more FA-50 fighter planes from South Korea as part of the Armed Forces Modernization Program.

“Dalawa pang FA-50 ang tatanggapin ng PAF sa unang araw ng Disyembre,” Lorenzana said in his speech during the celebration of the Department of National Defense’s 77th anniversary.

“Pagkatapos nito, apat na ang ating eroplanong pandigma. Meron pang walong matatanggap sa mga darating na buwan,” he added.

An advisory from the PAF said the second batch of FA-50PH F/SA/LIFTA with tail #003 and #004 from Korea will be ferried in the country by the pilots from Korean Aerospace Industries, Ltd (KAI) with an arrival ceremony. 

The first batch of supersonic jet arrived in the Philippines last November 28, 2015 while the remaining batches will touch down in 2017, PAF said. 

Lorenzana will be the guest of honor during the event to be held at Haribon Hangar, Air Force City, Clark Air Base, Mabalacat City, Pampanga.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said the purchase of FA-50s was a waste of money.

“Sayang ang pera doon. You can't use it for anti-insurgency which is the problem of the moment. You can only use it only for ceremonial fly-bys,” he said.

He said the money used to buy 12 fighter jets could have been used instead to buy helicopters with night vision capability, which could have prevented the kidnapping activities of terror group Abu Sayyaf. — RSJ, GMA News