🇰🇷🇵🇭 | A KAI official confirmed on the 23rd that Korea Aerospace Industries modified the Philippine Air Force's 23 FA-50PH Fighting Eagle to apply the Sniper Targeting Pod, one of the examples of performance upgrades. Both the current and additional 12 new FA-50 Block-70 fighter jets will be modified to have Advanced Sniper Targeting Pod. The current 11 FA-50s will be upgraded through the FA-50 Systems Upgrade, while the additional 12 new FA-50s will be delivered with the new capabilities including the Sniper Targeting Pod, AESA radar, aerial refueling probe, beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, and long-range air-to-ground cruise missiles. The first units are expected to be revealed in 2027, and will be delivered starting in 2028.
On the second day, the 22nd, they visited the Sacheon Air Show venue to observe demonstration flights of domestic aircraft, and on the last day, the 23rd, they plan to hold individual meetings by country and aircraft type to share current issues and conduct in-depth discussions.
"At this meeting, we introduced the case of the Philippines’ FA-50 modified to apply the Sniper Targeting Pod as one of the examples of performance improvement for domestically produced aircraft," a KAI official told reporters on the same day. "On the final day, the 23rd, we plan to hold individual meetings by country and aircraft type to discuss operational issues and cooperation tasks in detail."
Song Ho-cheol, Vice President and Head of Production Operations at KAI, stated, “This meeting was a valuable opportunity to share operational performance, improvement cases, and challenges with countries operating domestic aircraft.” He added, “By presenting examples of performance improvements and strengthening mutual cooperation, this will serve as a stepping stone to enhance the reliability of domestic aircraft and expand future export markets.”
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