12 May 2017
Acceptance, Turn Over and Blessing Ceremony of the 5th batch of FA-50PH “Fighting Eagle” Fighter/Surface Attack/Lead-in Fighters Trainer Aircraft (F/SA/LIFTA) with tail nr 009 and 010 took place last May 10, 2017 at the Haribon Ramp, Clark Air Base, Pampanga with the Air Logistics Command (ALC) Commander, MGEN ARNOLD A MANCITA AFP as the guest of honor.
The PAF’s acquisition of the 12 FA-50PH F/SA/LIFTA is under the AFP Modernization Program contracted with the KAI to beef up the country’s territorial defense capabilities. Moreover, the said acquisition signals the symbolic return of the PAF to its supersonic age after the PAF's F-5 Freedom Fighter jets were retired in 2005.
With the expected arrival of the last batch of FA-50 jets sometime this year, the delivery of PAF’s 12-jets order from the Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI), Ltd. is near completion.
Photo By: TSg Mohammad, A1C Balunes
