The Philippine Air Force (PAF) confirmed on Wednesday night the signing of a contract for the acquisition of 12 new FA-50 fighter jets from South Korea.

"The Philippine Department of National Defense has officially signed a contract with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for the acquisition of 12 additional FA-50PH Fighting Eagles, further enhancing the capabilities of the Philippine Air Force," the 5th Fighter Wing under the Air Defense Command of the PAF said in its Facebook post.

"The FA-50PH has proven its versatility and reliability in various operations, and this expansion underscores the Philippines' commitment to modernizing its defense forces and strengthening regional security," it added

The 5th Fighter Wing which was tasked to supervise the fighter jet operations of PAF noted that the "$700 million agreement includes not only the aircraft but also comprehensive logistics support."

"The new FA-50PH units are expected to feature significant upgrades, such as air-to-air refueling capability, advanced radar systems, and enhanced weapon integration, with deliveries expected to be completed by 2030," it stated.

The South Korean newspaper Chosun Daily reported that the contract to deliver 12 additional FA-50 fighter jets for the PAF by 2030 was signed last June 3.

Presently, the PAF has a total of 11 FA-50 jets after one crashed in Bukidnon last March. The 12 jets that were delivered from 2015 to 2017 were acquired from Korea Aerospace Industries for P18.9 billion under the 1st horizon of the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Robina Asido/DMS