Poland begins receiving FA-50 Fighting Eagle light fighters
Last year, Poland ordered FA-50 Fighting Eagle light fighters from the Republic of Korea. The first planes have started to arrive.
Here's What We Know
The manufacturer of the FA-50 is Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI). The company has been awarded a contract for 48 fighters. The first batch consists of 12 aircraft. Two of them are already ready and are due to take part in an air show in Poland in late summer.
Oficjalny roll-out FA-50, czyli uroczyste wyprowadzenie z zakładów KAI Factory pierwszego samolotu FA-50 produkcji ????????, zakupionego na wyposażenie #WojskoPolskie????????. pic.twitter.com/ScWNpz9RSw
- Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej ???????? (@MON_GOV_PL) June 7, 2023
The 12 fighters from the first batch correspond to Block 10 level. They cost $0.7 billion. Poland spent another $2.3 billion to buy 36 FA-50 Block 20 light fighters. They will be able to launch JSM and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles.
Note that KAI believes in its aircraft. The Korean company hopes to double its production of supersonic fighters. Potential buyers include the US Air Force and Navy. There is a chance that KAI will get a contract for 500 planes from the US Department of Defense within 2-3 years.
Source: @MON_GOV_PL
