Chinese media reports FA-50 export to Egypt as a ‘superstar’: What an embarrassment!!!

2023year 10month 10day, through googling about FA-50, I came across an article related to FA-50 published by Min News, an English newspaper published in China. This was a very fresh article that had been uploaded just a few hours ago.

Sometimes, articles related to KF-21 or FA-50 are published on Min News, but most of them are biased based on China’s unique nationalistic patriotism, so I usually skim through them. However, this article was completely different from the previous ones.  

The fact that negotiations are underway to sell the T-50

advanced trainer and its upgraded version, the FA-50, to Egypt has already been reported through many media outlets.

Although Min News

presents it as if the contract has been concluded, it is known that the matter has not yet been definitively decided. Even with such facts in mind, Min News is praising the export of the FA-50 to Egypt with an unprecedented expression, which is unusual to see.   “This sudden news is not only very shocking, but also implies that South Korea’s defense industry has reached a high level

”

or “

In the Middle East and Africa, the T-50 and FA-50 have become the new superstars of the defense market”, it feels very strange to see such expressions.   In the 256th episode of KKMD, titled “Invaded the Philippine territorial waters, China’s one word chased by the FA-50: ‘The FA-50 is inferior to the JF-17’, I introduced a Chinese article that harshly criticized the FA-50, an upgraded version of the T-50 advanced trainer, as not being a proper fighter and having performance that does not even match the initial model of the JF-17, which was jointly developed by China and Pakistan. In fact, as of March 2021, when this article was published, the FA-50 was constantly criticized for its lack of air combat capability other than the clock in every bid for a light combat aircraft

.

Not only the JF-17 Thunder, which was jointly produced by China and Pakistan, but also the Tejas

developed by India always attacked this part as a weakness whenever they encountered the FA-50

as a competitor.   One of the Chinese media outlets, Min News, published an article on October 10, 2023, which is quite different in atmosphere. To exaggerate, it makes me want to say, “Either curse or praise, do only one of the two”. First, let me translate the article and then briefly share my thoughts.     _________________________   The Arab Organization for Industrialization(AOI) in Egypt recently announced that it has signed a landmark contract with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to produce the T-50 Golden Eagle advanced trainer and its upgraded version, the FA-50 Fighting Eagle, in Egypt.

This sudden news is not only very shocking, but also implies that South Korea’s defense industry has reached a high level. Egypt’s participation allows us (China) to glimpse the future where the T-50 and FA-50 become the new superstars of the defense market in the Middle East and Africa, and through this opportunity, the influence of Korean-made weapons in the Middle East/Africa region is expected to greatly expand.

However, the details related to the conclusion of the contract between Korea and Egypt have not yet been disclosed. The Egyptian Air Force plans to purchase as many as 100 T-50/FA-50s from Korea Aerospace Industries, which is a very impressive number

. In August 2022

, the ‘Black Eagles’, the Korean Air Force’s special flight team composed of T-50Bs, participated in the Egypt Pyramids Air Show, showcasing awe-inspiring acrobatics and receiving great acclaim from the local Egyptians. The Black Eagles’ air show can be seen as a pre-siege to win Egypt’s choice.

https://youtu.be/fmkysCQESB8

Responsive

It is known that Korea and India had a fierce competition in the high trainer and light combat aircraft bidding hosted by the Egyptian government earlier. However, looking at the statement recently announced by the Arab Organization for Industrialization, it is clear that Korea has succeeded, while India’s Tejas (Tejas) seems to be experiencing a great setback.   The Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI), a huge organization established in the 1970s, is currently one of the largest industrial groups in Egypt. AOI boasts a wide range of businesses, from military aircraft to missiles and some civilian products. This organization has a large production workforce, including 1,250 engineers dedicated to the research, development, and production of military technology and equipment.

It is worth mentioning that Egypt introduced the K-8E trainer from China as early as 1999, which was the largest export order for China’s JL-8/K-8 series.