Six FA-50 commissioned in 2016, S-211 pilots to handle

From Ang Malaya (Nov 24): Six FA-50 commissioned in 2016, S-211 pilots to handle

Philippine Air Force formed a committee, composed of KAI and PAF officials, to screen possible pilots who will to train in South Korea next year for the FA-50 Fighting Eagle. According to PAF Commanding Officer Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado, SIAI-Marchetti S-211 pilots will most likely be chosen for the training.

PAF earlier said that pilots with high jet flying time from the ranks of major and captain will be chosen to train to operate the Fighting Eagle. These pilots who will train in South Korea will eventually become trainors when they return.

Department of National Defense announced earlier this year that two out of twelve ordered FA-50s will be delivered September next year. DND added that in 2016 six Fighting Eagles are already commissioned.

FA-50 can load up to 4.5 tons of weapons and has a wide-range of armament system. It has a 20 mm three-barrel gun that can fire at extremely high rate internally installed.

It can be fitted with AIM-9 Sidewinder, a short-range air-to-air missile; AGM-65, an air-to-surface missile designed for close-air support missions; cluster bombs and rocket launchers.

The Fighting Eagle is equipped with Multimode Airborne Fire Control Radar system designed to accomplish air-to-air and airstrike missions.

http://www.angmalaya.net/nation/2014/11/24/5962-six-fa-50-commissioned-in-2016-s-211-pilots-to-handle