Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup speaks during a roll-out ceremony for the first FA-50GF light attack aircraft to be exported to Poland at the headquarters of the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), South Korea’s sole aircraft manufacturer, in Sacheon, some 300 kilometers south of Seoul, in this photo released by KAI.
SEOUL, June 7 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea on Wednesday held a roll-out ceremony for the first FA-50GF light attack aircraft to be exported to Poland, in a symbolic display of the two countries’ growing cooperation in the arms industry.
Under the theme of “Firm Commitment, Secure Future,” the ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), South Korea’s sole aircraft manufacturer, in Sacheon, some 300 kilometers south of Seoul.
Following flight tests through next month, KAI plans to supply 12 FA-50GF by the end of this year. In September 2022, KAI inked the “executive” contract with Warsaw’s Armament Agency to supply 48 FA-50 jets.
GF stands for the “gap filler” meant to replace Poland’s aging fleet with the group of the new aircraft.
The ceremony was attended by Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup and his Polish counterpart, Mariusz Blaszczak, as well as South Korea’s Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Jung Sang-hwa and Defense Acquisition Program Administration chief Eom Dong-hwan.
“We were able to successfully push for such a defense cooperation project within the short span of time due to not only our company’s outstanding technology and production capacity, but also trust between the two countries and Poland’s determination,” Lee said.
Blaszczak noted that the swift rollout has contributed to Poland’s reinforcement efforts.
“Thanks to the speedy release of FA-50GF, Poland is now able to equip itself with more advanced military strategies and realize the military modernization,” he said. “I look forward to seeing FA-50GF fly in the airspace of Poland.”
Aside from the 12 jets to be delivered this year, KAI plans to supply 36 units of the upgraded version, named FA-50PL, from the latter half of 2025 through 2028.
FA-50PL is upgraded by extending its range through the aerial refueling function and enhancing the active electronically scanned array (AESA) and air-to-surface and air-to-air weapons, according to KAI.
Poland has emerged as South Korea’s major weapons buyer as it has signed contracts with the Asian country to procure K2 tanks, K-9 self-propelled howitzers and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers in addition to the fighter jets.
Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup (R) and his Polish counterpart, Mariusz Blaszczak, pose for photos after signing a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint committee on defense and arms industry cooperation at the South Korean Air Force’s 3rd Flying Training Wing in Sacheon, about 300 kilometers south of Seoul, on June 7, 2023, in this photo provided by Seoul’s defense ministry.
After the roll-out ceremony, Lee and Blaszczak signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a joint ministerial committee on bilateral defense and arms industry cooperation, according to Seoul’s defense ministry.
They had agreed to form the regular consultative body when they met for talks in Poland in February.
The two ministers led the committee’s inaugural session after the MOU signing, and Lee requested for Blaszczak’s support so that the conditions for long-term arms industry cooperation can be maintained, the ministry said.
The two sides also agreed to deepen cooperation in the defense sector in line with their growing arms industry ties and discussed ways for cooperation, such as mutual visits between their troops that operate the same weapons systems, as agreed during their February talks, it added.
The two ministers were also scheduled to attend the third session of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Joint Live-Fire Exercise on Wednesday at the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, just 25 kilometers south of the inter-Korean border.
The allies’ largest-ever combined live-fire drills took place on May 25 and last Friday. It is scheduled to be staged two more times — next Monday and Thursday.
(Yonhap)
