9th and 10th FA-50 jet aircraft to be commissioned into PAF service Wednesday

From the Philippine News Agency (May 9): 9th and 10th FA-50 jet aircraft to be commissioned into PAF service Wednesday

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will formally commissioned into service its ninth and tenth South Korean-made FA-50PH "Fighting Eagle" jet aircraft in Clark Air Base, Pampanga, bringing the number of Mach 1.5 capable aircraft into its inventory to 10.

This was disclosed by PAF spokesperson Col. Antonio Francisco in a message to the PNA Tuesday.

Present during the commissioning ceremonies at the Haribon Hangar at Clark Air Base, Angeles City is Air Logistics Command head Major Gen. Arnold A. Mancita.

FA-50PHs with tail numbers 009 and 010 arrived in the Philippines last April 26.

While FA-50PHs with tail numbers 007 and 008 arrived in the country last March 29 and were commissioned into service last April 6.

Francisco said the FA-50PHs are very useful for the PAF as it can be used for territorial defense and pilot training which is important as they are now focusing on the "generation" of pilots capable of manning sophisticated jet fighters which the country is planning to acquire for its military modernization program.

The first two FA-50PH units were delivered last Nov. 28, 2015 while the second batch was handed over last Dec. 8.

While the third batch was turned over to the PAF last Feb. 22.

With the arrival of the two jet aircraft, only two more FA-50PHs are scheduled to be delivered by May, completing the PAF's 12-plane order from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) worth PHP18.9 billion.

The FA-50PHs has a top speed of Mach 1.5 or one and a half times the speed of sound and is capable of being fitted air-to-air missiles, including the AIM-9 "Sidewinder" air-to-air and heat-seeking missiles aside from light automatic cannons.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/986183