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| A F/A-50 Golden Eagle Fighter (File Photo) |
By Prashanth Parameswaran
The delivery marks small but significant step in military modernization efforts.
The Philippines received the first two of a dozen new fighter jets from South Korea over the weekend in a notable development in the Southeast Asian nation’s effort to modernize its underfunded military.
The jets, which touched down at Clark Air Base on Saturday morning, were the first to arrive of 12 FA-50 Golden Eagle jet fighters that the Philippines had acquired from Korean Aerospace Inc. for 18.9 billion pesos ($402 million) last year (See: “South Korea, Philippines Deepen Military Ties”). That deal is part of an ongoing military modernization program, which has taken off under President Benigno Aquino III (whose tenure expires next year).
The arrival of the jets is significant as it marks the first time that Manila has had a supersonic capability since it decommissioned its Northrop F-5 “Tiger” jet fighters back in 2005 due to the lack of spare parts.
“We’re glad were finally back to the supersonic age,” Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said.
Read the full story at The Diplomat