The Philippines’ Brand New Fighter Jet Is Faster than the Speed of Sound

The long-awaited delivery of the first batch of FA-50 fighter-trainer jets from South Korea will be over on December 10.

The Philippine Air Force expects delivery from South Korea by December of the first two units of  FA-50 fighter jets—the first supersonic assets of the PAF since the F-5s were decommissioned in 2005.

PAF chief Lt. Gen. Jeffery Delgado is said to be “excited” about the new jets because he co-piloted one of them last November 6.

Col. Enrico Canaya, PAF spokesman, said Gen. Delgado was a co-pilot on an FA-50 flight out of Sancheon Air Base.

“He flew one of the aircraft due to be delivered…He co-piloted it…He appreciated all the manuevers done,” Canaya said.

“The aircraft flew Mach 1.2 or faster than the speed of sound so that’s supersonic and we do not have that kind of aircraft in our inventory after the decommissioning of our F-5s (in 2005). It’s the comeback of jet and supersonic age for the Air Force,” said Canaya.

The Department of Defense’s contract with Korea Aerospace Industries for 12 FA-50s is worth P18.9 billion.

The PAF spokesman said they hope the two FA-50s arrive in time for the celebration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ anniversary.

“That’s part of the plan – that it will be displayed and shown during the AFP day,” said Canaya.

The fighter jets are among the top priorities of Pres. Aquino to modernize the country’s weak armed forces.

Report says Japan is expected to transfer some of its military assets to the Philippines in no given time. The government is also in negotiation with Israel about the latter’s air defense system, which the DND is also interested to acquire.

/Dina Fruto/

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