The KF-21 soars across the sky. (Image courtesy of the Republic of Korea Air Force)
SEOUL, June 24 (Korea Bizwire) — The commander of Poland’s Air Force, General Ireneusz Nowak, is visiting South Korea this week to deepen defense cooperation and evaluate the country’s next-generation KF-21 Boramae supersonic fighter jet.
General Nowak met with South Korean Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Young-soo on Tuesday at the Air Force headquarters in Gyeryongdae, where the two reaffirmed commitments to expand bilateral collaboration in defense and the arms industry.
The visit underscores growing ties between the two nations’ militaries. In 2022, Poland signed a deal with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to purchase 48 FA-50 light combat aircraft. Twelve FA-50GF units have already been delivered by 2024, and 36 FA-50PL variants are set to follow.
As part of his itinerary, General Nowak will visit KAI’s facilities and fly aboard a prototype of the KF-21 with a test pilot, gaining firsthand experience of the jet’s capabilities. Discussions with KAI CEO Kang Goo-young and Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Commissioner Seok Jong-gun are also planned to address follow-up measures on the FA-50 deal and explore broader defense industrial cooperation.
Nowak will also tour the Republic of Korea Air Force’s 1st Fighter Wing, where Polish pilots are currently training on the T-50 aircraft. At the Air Force Education and Training Command, he is scheduled to review South Korea’s military training systems.
The visit comes as Poland continues to modernize its air force amid rising regional security tensions, with South Korea emerging as a key defense partner.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
