๐ฐ๐ท๐ต๐ญ | A Philippine Air Force delegation attended KAI DAY on the 23rd at the invitation of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). The Philippine delegation plans to visit and inspect KAI's production sites for the KF-21 and FA-50 Block-70 aircraft in Sacheon
๐ฐ๐ท๐ต๐ญ | A Philippine Air Force delegation attended KAI DAY, held on the second day of the 2026 Sacheon Air Show, on the 23rd at the invitation of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) officials. A total of 80 representatives from 14 countries, including the United States, the Philippines, Poland, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Romania, took part. As part of KAI DAY, the Philippine delegation plans to visit KAI's headquarters in Sacheon to tour and inspect the production sites for the KF-21 Boramae and the FA-50 Block-70. KAI is exploring new business opportunities in the Philippines, with the aim of winning the Multi-Role Fighter (MRF) acquisition program with the KF-21. The Philippine Air Force is also expected to check on the production status of the first batch of the 12 additional FA-50 Block-70 aircraft it ordered.
KAI is also expected to hold one-on-one meetings with the Philippine Air Force to review in detail the projects currently underway, the status of aircraft acquisition, and the KF-21 that KAI has proposed.
KAI Senior Vice President Song Ho-chul (Head of Production Division) said, "This meeting was a valuable opportunity to share operational records, improvement cases, and challenges with countries that operate domestically built aircraft. By presenting performance improvement cases and strengthening mutual cooperation, it became an occasion to raise the reliability of domestically built aircraft and expand future export markets."
This year's Sacheon Air Show newly created GADEX (Global Aerospace & Defense Exhibition), strengthening its standing as an international defense industry exhibition. 124 companies from 22 countries are participating, and the World Air Force Chiefs of Staff Conference, attended by foreign air force officials, will also be held. This shows that the Sacheon Air Show is expanding beyond an aviation festival into a business platform where aerospace and defense companies meet military officials.
In line with the changing nature of the event, KAI is showcasing its flagship aircraft, future combat systems, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology while seeking business opportunities in the global market. Ultimately, the success of this exhibition depends not on how many aircraft and technologies were displayed, but on whether the interest of overseas customers can be turned into actual cooperation and business.
It remains to be seen whether KAI can broaden the export base for the KF-21 and FA-50 while also securing new business opportunities in manned-unmanned teaming systems and unmanned aircraft.
They want to buy multibillion-dollar fighter jets while there are so many urgent problems like poverty, education, prices, lack of investment, and unemployment, so I get why people are skeptical or suspicious, and the concern is valid. But if this deal goes through, industrial offsets come along with it. For example, aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities, like Lufthansa Technik PH at NAIA or the MRO center planned for Clark. Jobs get created, it's an opportunity for TESDA to run aviation-related technical and vocational courses, and there would be internships for university aviation programs. These days, defense deals include the selling country investing in the customer country's economy. Poland bought 48 FA-50s from KAI, and the deal terms include Polish local aerospace industry taking part in MRO. If several EU countries end up buying Korean fighters, Poland could become the hub, and then Polish industry hits the jackpot. There's also the Gripen E deal between Sweden and Brazil. SAAB invested in Brazil's domestic industry as part of the deal. They also set up things like a research center, an innovation center, and educational institutions. Thailand bought the Gripen E/F, and as part of the deal SAAB invested in Thailand through MRO, a local supply chain, education, and so on. Peru bought the F-16V from the US, and the deal included an innovation center, drone manufacturing, and an aircraft MRO center. If the Philippines picks the F-16V, this is what's in the proposal template Lockheed Martin would offer. HD Hyundai PH setting up in Subic is the same story. By buying Philippine Navy warships, Korean investment came in, jobs were created, and Philippine shipbuilding came back to life. Now there's a ship MRO center and merchant ship construction, and warship construction will come later.
Idiots, when the PAF buys fighter jets: "They're no match for China! Take care of El Niรฑo, the economy, corruption, and flood control projects first! Not this stuff!" Idiots, when the government backs out of a fighter jet deal: "The money went in bags, in subsidies, in kickbacks! Other countries have them, why don't we!"
The video is cool, but why that music :')
This is a really big deal for us! They're actually brand new, not hand-me-down used ones from other countries. Salute to the AFP! At the same time, I wish your voices were also felt more on corruption and our country's political situation. Because of the current state of things, Filipinos are poor, divided, and each worships their own politician like a saint, which could slow the country's development even more and slow down AFP modernization too. I hope the AFP is well equipped when shit hits the fan. But it's frustrating seeing how the country is being run. Couldn't the AFP and the Filipino people come together on needing more competent leaders? I don't want to feel like we're just putting up with being trampled by other countries. I'm just getting this off my chest. This is an ordinary citizen talking, with no idea what the AFP can do to unite us.
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