Two South Korean FA-50s arriving Wednesday

February 21, 2017

The fifth and sixth units of FA-50 fighter trainer aircraft of the Philippines Air Forces is set to arrive  here on Wednesday.

Col. Antonio Francisco, Philippine Air Force spokesman, said the two FA-50 with tail numbers 005 and 006 will arrive in Clark Airbase in Pampanga from South Korea around noontime.

During their arrival, the two jets will be welcomed by the Commander, Air Logictics Command Major General Arnold Mancita with Lieutenant General Edgar Fallorina, commanding general, PAF as the guest of honor.

Francisco emphasized the importance of the arrival of the two FA-50 aircraft.

“Of course, it will further strengthen our assets and it will further boost our training, for us to have more time, more skills for our jet pilot so in case we have further improvement in the near future at least we have time and required skills on supersonic jets that is why we will have a very good development,” Francisco said.

Aside from training its pilot last month, two units of the FA-50 aircrafts were used to bombard the position of the terrorist group in Butig, Lanao del Sur which caused the wounding of Abu Sayyaf Group leader Isnilon Hapilon and death of a foreign terrorist.

The government has spent a total of P18.9 billion pesos to acquire 12 FA-50 fighter jets  from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the first batch of which were delivered on November 2015, while the second has arrived in the country on November of 2016.

Francisco also confirmed delivery of all remaining units may be completed within the year.  Robina Asido/DMS