Breaking news
Philippines' first KAI FA-50PH light combat aircraft successfully performerd maiden flight.
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World Aviation Defense & Security News - Philippines
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| Philippines' first KAI FA-50PH light combat aircraft successfully performerd maiden flight | |||
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Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) announced that the first FA-50PH for Philippines successfully performed its maiden flight. “FA-50PH’s maiden flight took place on 19 June after the Philippines has signed a contract for 12 KAI FA-50 fighter aircraft in March last year,” KAI said on its social networking page. "We will [do] our best to deliver initial 2 aircraft by the end of this year,” the Korean company said.
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![Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) announced that the first FA-50PH for Philippines successfully performed its maiden flight. “FA-50PH’s maiden flight took place on 19 June after the Philippines has signed a contract for 12 KAI FA-50 fighter aircraft in March last year,” KAI said on its social networking page. "We will [do] our best to deliver initial 2 aircraft by the end of this year,” the Korean company said.](/images/stories/news/2015/june/Philippines_first_KAI_FA_50PH_successfully_performerd_its_maiden_flight_640_001.jpg) KAI's first FA-50PH for the Philippine Air Force successfully performed its maiden flight |
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Philippine Air Force pilots high timers were chosen to train for the FA-50 in South Korea. “The operative term there is train the trainors, they will soon become the instructor pilots,” said Col. Miguel Okol from Air Defense Wing.
The Philippine Air Force chose 12 KAI TA-50 aircraft to fulfill its requirement for a light attack and lead-in fighter trainer aircraft. On 28 March 2014, the Philippines' Department of National Defense signed a contract for 12 FA-50 light attack aircraft worth P18.9 billion (US$421.12 million). The first two FA-50s are planned to be delivered 18 months after contract signing. Deliveries are to finish in 2017. The FA-50 measures 13.13m in length, 9.45m in width and 4.85m in height and is able to fly with a max speed of Mach 1.5 with up to 4,500kg armed weapons loaded in it. The FA-50 mounts a three-barrel cannon version of the M61 Vulcan internally behind the cockpit, which fires linkless 20 mm ammunition. Wingtip rails can accommodate the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, a variety of additional weapons can be mounted to underwing hardpoints. Compatible air-to-surface weapons include the AGM-65 Maverick missile, Hydra 70 and LOGIR rocket launchers, CBU-58 and Mk-20 cluster bombs, and Mk-82, -83, and -84 general purpose bombs. The Fighting Eagle is equipped with Multimode Airborne Fire Control Radar system designed to accomplish air-to-air and airstrike missions. |
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