A recent air show featured the multirole KF-21 Boramae fighter jets manufactured by a South Korean firm that sold FA-50 aircraft to Manila.
South Korea’s leading aircraft manufacturer has said it is in talks with the Philippines for more deals following an aerial show featuring the prowess of one of its newest multirole fighter jets near Seoul.
Spectators filled the Seoul Air Base in Seongnam in Gyeonggi Province for the Seoul International Aerospace & Defence Exhibition 2025, with the Republic of Korea Air Force showcasing the capabilities of the KF-21 Boramae, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), over the skies of the event area on October 19. A Philippine delegation was among the attendees at the five-day event.
The 4.5-generation fighter Boramae, meaning “hawk” in Korean, is expected to rival China’s J10 and FC31 fighters in markets such as Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and is set to enter service by the end of next year.
KAI also brought out its Light Armed Helicopter, the FA-50 light combat jets and the KUH-1 Surion helicopter.
During the event, Park Seonhee, KAI’s senior manager for international business development (Asia), confirmed to This Week in Asia that the company was in talks with the Philippines on further potential acquisitions.
“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. Their actual combat experience also serves as a strong reference that can be promoted to other countries,” Park said.
AI has been the primary supplier of the Philippine Air Force’s aircraft fleet, with 12 FA-50 fighter jets in service since 2014 after a purchase by Manila.
Earlier this year, the Philippines also signed a deal for 12 more upgraded FA-50 fighter jets.
KAI’s performance record is exceptional, according to Daeseo Park, a retired South Korean Air Force colonel who now serves as an expert adviser for KAI’s global business division.
“Our strong point is that we can keep the operational rate anytime more than 85 per cent. That means if something happens, then your FA-50 is ready to fight anytime, anywhere,” Park said.
Regional arms demand
Vincent Kyle Parada, Emerging Leaders Fellow at FACTS Asia and a former defence analyst for the Philippine Navy, said arms demand spurred by ongoing military modernisation programmes in the region had opened up opportunities for South Korea’s export-oriented defence industry, especially among middle-power states.
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