KAI to ramp up fighter jet share with FA-50 delivery to Poland

Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI), the country’s military aircraft manufacturer, started deliveries of fighter jets to Poland in a move to achieve its long-term target to expand its market share in the global light warplane market.

KAI said on Thursday that it delivered two units of FA-50GF to Poland only 10 months after signing a deal with the country in Central Europe, the shortest yet turnaround time for the company in an export deal. Those light fighter jets arrived in the nation on July 9, according to KAI.

The warplanes, which are under final checks at a Polish Air Force base in Minsk, are scheduled to be handed over to the flying corps early next month.

“This is a historic moment for the FA-50 to debut in Europe,” said KAI CEO Kang Goo-young at the air force base on Wednesday. “We will do our utmost for thorough quality control to contribute to improving the power of the Polish Air Force and prove the potential of K-defense.”

KAI inked a $3 billion contract with Skarb Panstwa-Agencja Uzbrojenia, the Polish armaments agency, in September 2022 to deliver 48 units of the FA-50 and provide related services including technical support.

The company is set to ship 12 units of the FA-50GF by year-end and the remaining 36 jets – FA-50PL – with additional configurations requested by the Polish Air Force from 2025 to 2028.

KAI held a roll-out ceremony of the light fighter jet’s first unit attended by Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak last month at its headquarters in Sacheon, about 340 kilometers (211 miles) south of Seoul.

The company, which agreed to export 18 units of the FA-50 to Malaysia in May, is currently concentrating its marketing in Egypt, a core security strategic country in Africa.

TARGETS MORE OVERSEAS MARKETS INCLUDING THE US

KAI aims to expand the light fighter jet’s presence in Europe, utilizing Poland as its marketing hub in the region, with a goal to introduce the light fighter jet to the US, the world’s largest military spender, as well as other countries in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa.

If the company makes inroads into the US, the light combat aircraft market of which totals about 500 units, it will help KAI export the FA-50 to other allies and secure more than 50% of the global light combat aircraft and advanced jet trainer market by selling about 1,300 units of such models, according to KAI.

In addition, the exports to the US are predicted to prove the reliability of South Korean warplanes, helping overseas sales of other models such as the KF-21, a supersonic fighter jet, and the Surion, a transport utility helicopter.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol last year unveiled an ambition to turn the country into one of the world’s four largest defense exporters.

The country’s defense makers reported a record $17 billion in exports, more than double its previous record of $7 billion in 2021, boosted by strong sales of FA-50 jets, K2 Black Panther battle tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers.

Write to Dong-Hyun Kim at 3code@hankyung.com
 
Jongwoo Cheon edited this article.