Key Points
- Korea Aerospace Industries is in talks with the Philippines over potential new fighter jet acquisitions following the Seoul International Aerospace & Defence Exhibition 2025.
- The Philippine Air Force already operates 12 FA-50s and has ordered 12 extra upgraded models earlier this yr.
The Philippines is in talks with South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for extra fighter jet acquisitions, as reported by South China Morning Post on Monday.
The discussions come on the heels of the Seoul International Aerospace & Defence Exhibition 2025, the place KAI showcased its KF-21 Boramae multirole fighter.
During the occasion, held October 19–23 at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, the KF-21 was flown by the Republic of Korea Air Force, drawing consideration from army and authorities representatives throughout the area, together with a Philippine delegation.
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“Their precise fight expertise additionally serves as a powerful reference that may be promoted to different nations,” stated Park Seonhee, KAI’s senior supervisor for worldwide enterprise improvement (Asia), in a press release to This Week in Asia. “We worth the Philippine Air Force – they already function the FA-50 and lately ordered further models. We are dedicated to supporting them in strengthening their capabilities.”
The KF-21 Boramae, a 4.5-generation fighter designed to rival China’s J-10 and FC-31, is scheduled to enter service by the tip of 2026. KAI is positioning the platform as an inexpensive and succesful possibility for nations throughout Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
KAI additionally exhibited the FA-50 mild fight plane, the KUH-1 Surion utility helicopter, and the Light Armed Helicopter through the five-day protection expo. The firm has provided 12 FA-50s to the Philippine Air Force since 2014, and earlier this yr Manila ordered 12 extra upgraded models.
“Our sturdy level is that we will hold the operational charge anytime greater than 85 %,” stated Daeseo Park, a retired Republic of Korea Air Force colonel now advising KAI’s international enterprise division. “That means if one thing occurs, then your FA-50 is able to struggle anytime, wherever.”
Vincent Kyle Parada, an Emerging Leaders Fellow at FACTS Asia and former protection analyst for the Philippine Navy, stated South Korea’s rising protection exports are formed by evolving demand amongst middle-power nations.
In a remark to This Week in Asia, Parada stated, “They’re typically seen as dependable regardless of their decrease price relative to Western producers. Because they’re nearer, South Korean producers can present important after-sales service assist to regional shoppers, together with tech transfers.”
The Philippines has not but confirmed the scope of potential future purchases, however the curiosity highlights the continued deepening of protection ties between Manila and Seoul.
South Korea’s push to develop its aerospace exports comes amid broader efforts to turn into one of many world’s prime 4 protection exporters, with Southeast Asia rising as a key goal market.
