Two more FA-50 fighter jets delivered to PAF

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Thursday received two more FA-50 fighter jets it ordered from a South Korean aircraft manufacturer, bringing to four the number of FA-50s in the military's inventory.

The two aircraft are part the 12 FA-50s ordered by the defense and military establishment from the Korea Aerospace Industries for P18.9 billion as part of the ongoing Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) Modernization Program.

The first two aircraft were delivered November last year, while the delivery of the eight others is due to be completed in September next year in accordance with the contract.

PAF spokesman Col. Antonio Francisco said the newly-delivered aircraft, with tail numbers 003 and 004, were met somewhere over Pangasinan by the two FA-50s that were earlier delivered before landing one after the other at the Clark Air Base in Pampanga before noon Thursday.

"Prior to landing, they made two passes over Clark Field in diamond formation together with 001 and 002 FA-50PHs," said Francisco, referring to the first and second FA-50s that were delivered last year.

"After landing, they passed through [a] water cannon ceremony then the pilots disembarked from the aircraft," he added.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, AFP chief Gen. Ricardo Visaya and PAF chief Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina welcomed aircraft upon touchdown at Clark Air Base.

The aircraft, flown by KAI pilots, left Korea last Tuesday and made a stop in Taiwan for re-fuelling. —KBK, GMA News