KAI Vows to Help Strengthen Manila’s Air Defence Capabilities

Jeoffrey Maitem - : Oct 21, 2025 - : 9:11 pm

South Korea’s leading aircraft manufacturer has pledged to support Manila in enhancing its air defense capabilities amid escalating territorial tensions with Beijing.

At the ongoing Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2025 at KINTEX in Goyang, Park Seonhee, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) Senior Manager for International Business Development (Asia), told Global Business Press that the company is in talks with the Philippines to expand defence cooperation.

“We value the Philippine Air Force — they already operate the FA-50 and recently ordered additional units,” Seonhee said. “We are committed to supporting the Philippine Air Force in strengthening its capabilities. Their actual combat experience also serves as a strong reference that can be promoted to other countries.”

Currently, the Philippines maintains eleven aircraft in service after one crashed in March during a mission in the southern Philippines. Earlier this year, Manila signed a deal with KAI to purchase 12 more upgraded FA-50 fighter jets.

“Our strong point is that we can keep the operational rate anytime more than 85%. That means if something happens, then your FA50 is ready to fight anytime, anywhere,” Seonhee said.

According to Vincent Kyle Parada, a former defence analyst for the Philippine Navy, the PAF is the most neglected out of all the major services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines when it comes to its modernization as it lacks the offensive capabilities of many of its regional counterparts, especially when it comes to fighter aircraft.

“The current FA-50s have usually been deployed in air patrol missions and to conduct airstrikes in support of counterinsurgency operations. Following the loss of one FA-50 during a nighttime mission last March, it is likely that they will focus mainly on territorial defence and reconnaissance missions moving forward,” said Parada.

Manila is currently locked in a territorial dispute with China, which claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea. However, an international arbitration ruling in 2016 rejected Beijing’s sweeping claims in favor of the Philippines—a decision that China has repeatedly dismissed as illegitimate.

“Having fighter aircraft in general enhances the PAF's interoperability with its allies and partners. It allows them to keep pace with the tempo of joint exercises and missions,” Parada added.

The FA-50 is a platform the PAF is already familiar with, and South Korea is a preferred partner—significantly reducing both acquisition and maintenance costs, according to Parada.

Seonhee agreed, saying that while the FA-50 is a more affordable aircraft compared to other fifth-generation fighters, it offers capabilities that come close to fifth generation jets.

“It’s an ideal solution for customers with budget constraints or operational limitations. It’s also highly cost-effective for smaller and Asian nations, as it can perform both training and combat missions using a single platform—reducing operational and acquisition costs,” Seonhee said.

Philippine-air-force-paf / Fa-50 / Kai / Seoul-adex-2025 / Fa-50-block-70 /

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