CLARK FREEPORT -- Two South Korean-made FA-50PH fighter jets, acquired by the Philippine Air Force (PAF), arrived at Clark Air Base Wednesday morning.
These second batch of light combat aircraft were flown into the country by the pilots of the Korean Aerospace Industries, Limited (KAI), the manufacturer of the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF).
Lieutenant General Edgar Fallorina, commanding general of the PAF, witnessed the arrival of the said the second batch of FA-50PH and other aircraft, which are expected to boost the territorial defense of the country and the PAF’s air capability.
The first batch of the supersonic jets arrived in the country on November 28, 2015. The remaining batch will be delivered in September 2017.
These are part of the government’s purchase from KAI of 12 aircraft worth P18.9 billion.
President Duterte earlier said that the purchase of the FA 50 jets is just a waste of money as the air assets are only used in ceremonies.
The PAF said that the FA-50PH has a top speed of Mach 1.5 or one and half the speed of sound and is capable to be armed with air-to-air missiles.