Philippine Air Force considering FA-50 instead of Gripen? FA-50 Block 20(70) capabilities gaining more attention overseas!!!

During the ADEX 2023 period, I asked a representative I met at the KAI booth, “What are the most frequently asked questions by general visitors?” I have asked this before. One of those questions was about “Why doesn’t the Republic of Korea Air Force introduce the FA-50 Block 20, which other countries’ air forces adopt for its excellence“. Seeing the puzzled expression on the face of the representative, I couldn’t help but think of the irony.

The FA-50, equipped with a single GE F404 engine, can reach a maximum speed of over Mach 1.5 and boasts excellent maneuverability, following the lineage of the F-16. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve heard from an Air Force pilot who has flown both the KF-16 and the FA-50 that “If I were to compare it to a car, the KF-16 feels like a sedan, and the FA-50 feels like a sports car“.

In other words, the FA-50, boasting fast speed and a narrow turning radius, is a formidable opponent in close air combat situations, even for the F-16. In addition, the Polish export version of the FA-50PL, also known as the FA-50 Block 20, plans to carry the Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) and the latest short-range air-to-air infrared-guided missile, the AIM-9X.

The integration of the medium-range air-to-air missile, AIM-120 Amraam, is still uncertain, but the integration of the HMD and the AIM-9X alone will significantly increase the air defense capabilities of the FA-50. The short-range air-to-air missile, AIM-9L/M, integrated into the FA-50 currently operated by the Republic of Korea Air Force, is known to have a range of about 18 kilometers, but it is most effective when fired within about 3 kilometers.

However, in the case of the latest AIM-9X, like the AIM-120 Amraam, it is equipped with flight path software that maximizes the range through a steep ascent maneuver after launch, extending the range to nearly 40 kilometers. At the same time, it is equipped with a powerful new infrared seeker, posing a significant threat to stealth fighters, and is hardly deceived by flares and unaffected by electronic warfare. In addition, the AIM-9X is equipped with a thrust vectoring control (TVC) feature, which allows it to pursue targets far off the flight path, such as enemy aircraft following from behind, through a sharp maneuver of 50~60G right after launch. That’s not all. The AIM-9X can be guided through a data link, meaning that if the enemy aircraft is within the effective range of 40 kilometers, it can be shot down even if it is not visible to me, guided by an allied fighter. This means that it also has a sort of beyond visual range (BVR) air combat capability. If such an AIM-9X is combined with a helmet-mounted display (HMD), it will exert even more powerful capabilities. The Polish export version of the FA-50PL, or so-called Block 20, will have these capabilities. However, it appears that the Republic of Korea Air Force has no plans to grant these capabilities to the FA-50s deployed in Korea.

https://youtu.be/tY7VePj1lqM

Speaking of which, I heard that recent FA-50 developers, who think that the FA-50 block concept is being used too haphazardly, are trying to define the FA-50PL specification as Block 70. In line with this, KKMD is also considering calling the FA-50 integrated with the AESA radar and AIM-120C Amraam not Block 20 but Block 70.

One of the topics I asked intensively at the ADEX 2023 KAI booth was about the single-seat FA-50 and its upgrades. For the Republic of Korea Air Force, the FA-50 is like a ‘dilemma’, where there’s nothing to eat but it’s too precious to throw away. The FA-50 upgrade plan should be thoroughly distinguished between ‘domestic use’ and ‘overseas use’ to avoid confusion.

The capabilities of the FA-50 block 70 for export, including the single-seat model, are impressive enough to be called a multirole fighter. Through industry insiders, I heard that the issue of integrating the AIM-120 Amraam, which has had a lot of talk and trouble, is making significant progress, and that by adding a 300-gallon fuel tank and modifying the rear seat, the operational radius can be expanded by more than 20% from the current range.

“[Naval News Translation] With a range of 300 kilometers and flying at Mach 2.5, the integration of a supersonic air-to-ground/air-to-ship missile/