Air Force receives 2 more fighter jets from Korea

MANILA, Philippines — Two more FA-50PH fighter jets from South Korea arrived in the Philippines on Wednesday. 

The fourth batch of planes, which arrived on Wednesday, brings its total number of fighter jets to eight. 

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) received the new air assets, with tail numbers 007 and 008, at the Haribon Hangar, Air Force City at Clark Air Base in Pampanga.

The two jets are part of the 12 supersonic trainers bought for P18.9 billion in 2014 by the Aquino administration from South Korean defense contractor Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), under the military's modernization program.

The first batch of fighter jets arrived in November 2015, which marked the symbolic return of the PAF to the supersonic age. Supersonic refers to aircraft capability of flying faster than sound or 750 miles per hour.

The rest of the jets are scheduled to be delivered in September. 

“We expect the delivery of the jets to be completed within the year,” said PAF chief Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina on Tuesday. 

The arrival of the aircraft is expected to further strengthen the fighting and defense capabilities of the PAF. — with report from Michael Punongbayan