KAI flies FA-50 fighter jets with pride at Radom Airshow

Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI), South Korea’s sole military aircraft manufacturer, is stepping up its defense export marketing efforts by participating in the Radom Airshow in Poland, one of Europe’s largest defense exhibitions.

At the air show held over the past weekend at Poland’s Radom airport, KAI showcased several aircraft in its latest lineup, including the KF-21 Korean fighter jet, light armed helicopters (LAHs) and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft NI-500VT.

Hosted by the AMW, Poland’s military asset agency, the airshow featured various aircraft from Poland, the UK, Germany, France and Switzerland. KAI was one of the airshow’s official sponsors.

At the air show, KAI also flew its FA-50 fighter jets, which the Korean company recently exported to Poland.

During the Polish Armed Forces Day, KAI successfully debuted the FA-50 over European skies in mid-August.

In a symbolic maneuver signifying the Polish military’s modernization, the aircraft flew in formation with Poland's MiG-29 fighter jet currently in service.

"This year's Radom Airshow marks a turning point in our transition from past weapon systems to modern ones," said a high-ranking Polish military officer. “We can witness the transition from the MiG-29 to the FA-50."

Mariusz Błaszczak, deputy prime minister and minister of National Defense of Poland, said at the airshow: "Thanks to the rapid delivery of the FA-50, the Polish Air Force's capabilities have been enhanced, enabling a robust response to external threats.”

POLAND, KAI’S MARKETING HUB IN EUROPE

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

The Korean company, which started deliveries of the fighter jet in July of this year, is slated 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 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 to other countries in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa.

Last month, KAI opened an office in Poland to handle customer service and provide technical support for the FA-50 fighter jets.

In May, KAI secured a deal to export 18 units of the FA-50 to Malaysia. It is also in talks to export them to Egypt.

AIMS TO SELL 1,000 FA-50s OVER DECADE

Last year, then KAI CEO Ahn Hyun-ho said the company is seeking to sell 1,000 units of the FA-50 light combat aircraft worth 40 trillion won ($30 billion) over the next decade.

Interest in Korea’s advanced weapons system has heightened in Europe since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, and KAI is showing off an upgraded FA-50, which incorporates specifications requested by NATO and EU member countries, he said.

The FA-50 is a variant of KAI's T-50 supersonic trainer jet, co-developed with Lockheed Martin Corp., using some of the US defense company's technologies.

KAI has exported the light attack aircraft to Iraq, the Philippines and Thailand. The Korean Air Force has been operating 60 FA-50s since 2014.

According to KAI, the FA-50 is compatible with the F-16 fighter jet operated by NATO member nations and optimized for training pilots for fifth-generation fighter jets such as the F-35.

The FA-50, which flies at the maximum speed of Mach 1.5, is equipped with air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles and carries a range of precision munitions and radar systems.

South Korea aims to become the world’s third-largest defense exporter within five years from the No. 10 player at the end of 2021.

Write to Dong-Hyun Kim at 3code@hankyung.com

In-Soo Nam edited this article.