Copyright defence-blog
The Philippines is in talks with South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for additional fighter jet acquisitions, as reported by South China Morning Post on Monday. The discussions come on the heels of the Seoul International Aerospace & Defence Exhibition 2025, where KAI showcased its KF-21 Boramae multirole fighter. During the event, held October 19–23 at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, the KF-21 was flown by the Republic of Korea Air Force, drawing attention from military and government representatives across the region, including a Philippine delegation. “Their actual combat experience also serves as a strong reference that can be promoted to other countries,” said Park Seonhee, KAI’s senior manager for international business development (Asia), in a statement to This Week in Asia. “We value the Philippine Air Force – they already operate the FA-50 and recently ordered additional units. We are committed to supporting them in strengthening their capabilities.” The KF-21 Boramae, a 4.5-generation fighter designed to rival China's J-10 and FC-31, is scheduled to enter service by the end of 2026. KAI is positioning the platform as an affordable and capable option for nations across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. KAI also exhibited the FA-50 light combat aircraft, the KUH-1 Surion utility helicopter, and the Light Armed Helicopter during the five-day defense expo. The company has supplied 12 FA-50s to the Philippine Air Force since 2014, and earlier this year Manila ordered 12 more upgraded units. “Our strong point is that we can keep the operational rate anytime more than 85 percent,” said Daeseo Park, a retired Republic of Korea Air Force colonel now advising KAI’s global business division. “That means if something happens, then your FA-50 is ready to fight anytime, anywhere.” Vincent Kyle Parada, an Emerging Leaders Fellow at FACTS Asia and former defense analyst for the Philippine Navy, said South Korea’s growing defense exports are shaped by evolving demand among middle-power countries. In a comment to This Week in Asia, Parada said, “They’re generally seen as reliable despite their lower cost relative to Western manufacturers. Because they’re nearer, South Korean manufacturers can provide significant after-sales service support to regional clients, including tech transfers.” The Philippines has not yet confirmed the scope of potential future purchases, but the interest highlights the continued deepening of defense ties between Manila and Seoul. South Korea's push to expand its aerospace exports comes amid broader efforts to become one of the world’s top four defense exporters, with Southeast Asia emerging as a key target market.
