Poland has signed a contract to buy Korean FA-50 fighters, the first planes will arrive in mid-2023
After several weeks of rumors, Poland signed a contract with South Korea to buy FA-50 fighters.
What we know
The Polish Ministry of Defense announced this. The number of planes is not said, but it is known that Poles will be able to staff up to 3 squadrons of the Air Force. First deliveries of fighters will begin in mid-2023.
Wicepremier @mblaszczak zatwierdził kontrakt na dostawę samolotów FA-50, które będą skonfigurowane zgodnie z wymaganiami polskich Sił Powietrznych. Umowa pozwoli wyposażyć do 3 eskadr Sił Powietrznych, a pierwsze samoloty będą w Polsce w połowie 2023 r pic.twitter.com/dainZqbQPu
- Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej ???????? (@MON_GOV_PL) July 27, 2022
For those not in the know
The FA-50 is a two-seat supersonic jet. It was developed by the South Korean firm KAI together with the American company Lockheed Martin. The program was financed 17% by KAI, 13% by Lockheed Martin and 70% by the South Korean government. Serial production of the aircraft began in 2003. The cost per fighter is about $25,000,000.
The FA-50's armament includes AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, AIM-120 AMRAAM, AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground, JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) satellite-guided bombs and cluster munitions with correction.
Source: @ MON_GOV_PL
For those who want to know more
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