Mińsk Mazowiecki 2024-12-07
KAI FA-50 light combat aircraft.
The preliminary agreement for the purchase of KAI FA-50 aircraft was concluded on July 27, 2022. On September 16, 2022, in Mińsk Mazowiecki, with the participation of the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda and the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak, two executive agreements were concluded regarding the acquisition of light combat aircraft of the KAI FA-50 Fighting Eagle family from South Korea.
The subject of the first agreement, concluded between the State Treasury – Armaments Agency, and KAI (Korean Aerospace Industries), was the delivery of 12 light combat aircraft FA-50 GF, in a configuration similar to that ordered by the Air Force of the Republic of Korea, together with training and logistics packages and technical support services. The value of the agreement amounted to USD 705 million net. The aircraft were to be delivered by the end of 2023, and the remaining elements of the agreement by the end of 2025.
The subject of the second contract, concluded between the State Treasury – Armament Agency, and Korean Aerospace Industries, is the delivery of 36 FA-50 PL light combat aircraft, along with training and logistics packages and technical support services. The value of the contract is USD 2.3 billion net. The aircraft are to be delivered in the period 2025-2028. The logistics package includes a stock of spare parts and consumables. Among others, there will be flight simulators and combat mission simulators; (FMS – Flight Model Simulator and OFT – Operational Flight Trainer). A FA-50 aircraft service center will be built in Poland, with a planned launch date in 2026.
The contract referred to the modernization of the first 12 aircraft to the FA-50 PL standard, as well as subsequent modifications.
The KAI FA-50 Fighting Eagle aircraft is a light two-seater combat aircraft equipped with advanced imaging and control systems, as well as modern avionics and a fire control radar. The armament consists of a 20 mm cannon and a wide range of underslung aircraft weapons, including AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles, and several types of aircraft bombs. It is not without significance that the FA-50 aircraft have systems compatible with American Lockheed Martin aircraft; F-16 C/D Block 52+ and F-35A. What is more, most of the weapons used on F-16 aircraft can be used on FA-50 aircraft.
The aircraft is powered by a General Electric F-404 turbofan engine with afterburning, with a thrust of 1 x 78.7 kN (17,700 lbf). This is a popular engine used in the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet and SAAB JAS 39 Gripen aircraft. The maximum speed is Mach 1.5 (1,837.5 km/h). The aircraft’s operational range is 1,800 km, and its maximum ceiling is 14,600 m. The aircraft’s empty weight is 6,470 kg, with a maximum take-off weight of 12,300 kg. The armament load is 4,500 kg.
The first KAI FA-50 aircraft are stationed at the 23rd Tactical Air Base. The aircraft were delivered in containers, partially disassembled. They were assembled by Korean technicians. Then there were test flights and a commission handover of the aircraft.
As for the weapons, it should be remembered that they are ordered in separate agreements. The weapons are manufactured by companies other than those that manufacture the aircraft. In addition, it is easier to obtain permission to manufacture weapons under license in Poland. Contrary to the communist, Masonic, Volksdeutsche information spread in the Polish-language media, the Polish Army is able to arm the FA-50 GF aircraft with several weapon systems, because it is the same weapon that we bought for the Polish F-16s. This could be; the AGM-65 Maverick laser-guided missile, classic Mark 82 aircraft bombs, JDAM precision-guided bombs and ammunition for the 20 mm M61A2 aircraft cannon. The latter is a lighter version of the M61 Vulcan aircraft cannon used in the F-16 and uses the same ammunition. The purchase of combat assets integrated with the American machine was therefore a necessity and the purchase of further ammunition from the same source will be simple. Not only that. The FA-50 GF can use older versions of the AIM-9 Sidewinder guided missiles, which are not manufactured in the US but are manufactured in other NATO countries. Another 32 FA-50 PL variants will be able to use the latest version of the AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, just like our F-16s. The FA-50s can use the GBU-12 laser-guided bombs that are used on the F-16. The FA-50 PLs will also use the AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, which are medium-range air-to-air missiles that can destroy any Muscovite aircraft.
Of course, the communists, freemasons and Volksdeutsche continued to attack the feasibility of acquiring FA-50s. Remember that up until 2003, they considered purchasing Sukhoi Su-27s and their subsequent versions. And in the 90s of the 20th century, they were supporters of acquiring the Germanic Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet aircraft withdrawn from service, with mediocre performance and poor tactical and technical data.
In Poland, the 12 FA-50 GF aircraft acquired were never grounded, as reported by Polish-language media. There was only an extension of the process of introducing the aircraft. The Polish Army had to do a lot of work so that all certificates and consents were issued. The problem is that the December 13 coalition is currently (December 2024) on the best path to destroy Poland, by all possible means. But let them remember that every dictatorship falls.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman