6 remaining FA-50 fighter jets from Korea to arrive in PHL before May's end

The six remaining FA-50 fighter jets purchased by the government from South Korea are set to arrive in the Philippines before May, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Thursday.

Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said two of the jets (with tail number 007 and 008) would be arriving Wednesday next week, while two more would be delivered in April, and the last two in May.

The six jets are part of the 12 FA-50s purchased by the military from manufacturer Korean Aerospace Industries for P18.9 billion during the Aquino administration.

President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier criticized the multi-billion peso purchase as a waste of government funds, saying FA-50s are now used only in airshows and not to fight insurgency.

Duterte said the military fund could have been used instead to buy helicopters with night vision capability.

Six FA-50s have earlier been delivered to the Philippines — via the Clark Air Base, home to the 1st Air Division — in three batches of two, since November 2015.

“By April, FA-50s with tail numbers 009 and 010 will be delivered while 011 and 012 will be handed over this May. By that time (May), the PAF’s 12 FA-50 fleet will be completed,” said Padilla.

The military spokesman said the military was also considering the acquisition of six more FA-50s from KAI, saying the FA-50s currently in the inventory of the Air Force are performing well.

"We are constantly evaluating the jet and so far, it's performance has been good. If we will be given additional funding and authority, we might acquire six more units," said Padilla.

According to the military, the aircraft are used in training fighter pilots to operate more advanced and capable aircraft and in external defense.  

Recently, the aircraft were used in the ongoing campaign against the Abu Sayyaf and Maute Group. — MDM, GMA News