With its sale to the Philippines, Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 fighter jet may be the answer for countries that cannot afford expensive western aircraft.
South Korea will provide the Philippines with 12 FA-50 jets worth $415.7 million. Priced at $35 million a jet, the FA-50 presumably costs lower than the JAS 39 Gripen besides lower operating cost than Swedish aircraft
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| Litening is a combat-proven multi-spectral airborne targeting and navigation pod. It is designed for navigation and target illumination to improve day and night attack capabilities. Litening presents pilots with real-time, Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) and Charge Coupled Device (CCD) imagery. The high sensor resolution enables pilots to reliably identify the combat objects and consequently to avoid collateral damage. It is fully operational 24 hours a day and in adverse weather conditions. |
The aircraft is equipped with Joint Direct Attack Munition, the Sensor-Fused Weapon and the AGM-65 Maverick. According to KAI, the FA-50 could eventually add the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser and a host of Israeli munitions equipped with the Rafael Spice electro-optical/infrared/GPS/inertial guidance kit. It would also be able to carry the Rafael Litening II targeting pod. It is not known what weapons configuration will go with the Philippines order.
In December 2013, the Iraqi Air Force signed a $1.1 billion contract for 24 T-50 aircraft, which is the most advanced version of the FA-50, and will be able to serve both as an advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft.
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