KAI Completes Delivery of FA-50 Jets to Polish Armed Forces

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has completed the delivery of all 12 FA-50 Fighting Eagles Block 10 light combat aircraft to the Polish Armed Forces, marking a significant enhancement of the Polish Air Force's capabilities following the transfer of Soviet-era MiG-29 aircraft to Ukraine.

This delivery fulfills one of two contracts signed between the Polish Ministry of Defense and KAI in September 2022. Last year, Poland secured a deal for 12 KAI FA-50 Block 10 jets valued at $705 million. This contract stipulated that deliveries would be completed by the end of 2023 and included a comprehensive package of training, logistics, and technical support.

Sources from the Polish Ministry of Defense indicate that the 12 FA-50 Block 10 jets, also known as FA-50GF (Gap Filler), will primarily serve the training needs of the Polish Air Force. Notably, Poland did not acquire any air-to-air weapons for these jets, and their stock of air-to-ground weapon systems is somewhat limited.

The second contract, signed in September 2023, involves the delivery of 36 FA-50 Block 20 aircraft (locally designated as "FA-50PL") between 2025 and 2028. These aircraft will be equipped with AESA radar, and the Polish Air Force has expressed intentions to integrate AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles into this air platform. The contract for these advanced jets is estimated at approximately $2.3 billion.

Regarding the AESA radar for the 36 FA-50 Block 20 aircraft, the Polish Armaments Agency announced plans to equip these fighters with Raytheon's PhantomStrike radar.

Subsequently, the Polish Ministry of Defense aims to upgrade the 12 FA-50 Block 10 aircraft, acquired under the first contract, to the FA-50PL standard. This move is part of Poland's broader strategy to modernize its air defense capabilities and maintain a robust defense posture in the tense Eastern European region.