Deliveries Of Poland’s First FA-50 Light Attack Jets Complete
Poland’s Armament Agency announced on December 29 that the Polish Air Force had received all 12 of its first batch of FA-50 light attack aircraft.
The FA-50s are the first batch of an order of 48 placed in 2022, with the initial batch largely identical to the FA-50s currently in use with the Republic of Korea Air Force, aside from the addition of NATO-compatible identification friend or foe systems and a Link 16 datalink.
All 12 of the FA-50s are currently based at the 23rd Tactical Air Base near Mińsk Mazowiecki. Previously, the Polish Air Force had operated MiG-29s out of the airbase. The Polish Air Force’s remaining MiG-29s are now concentrated at the 22nd Tactical Air Base in Malbork, with some of the MiGs having been donated to Ukraine.
The remaining 36 FA-50s will be delivered between 2025 and 2028. These aircraft will be equipped with Raytheon’s PhantomStrike active electronically scanned array radar, supporting the use of beyond-visual-range air-to–air missiles like the AIM-120, as well as long range air-to-surface missiles.
In related news, South Korea’s military procurement agency announced on January 2 that it has agreed with the Polish defense ministry to launch a mutual recognition process for military airworthiness certification, where national regulatory bodies determine that a military aircraft is safe to fly.
According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, finalization of the mutual recognition process will see both governments accept airworthiness certifications for aircraft made in the other country. In a statement issued to Yonhap, the agency hoped that the process would facilitate expanded defense industry cooperation with Poland, as well as further fighter jet exports to European operators.
Poland is the fifth nation to enter the mutual recognition process, with the United States, Spain, France and Australia already having mutual recognition agreements with South Korea. In June 2023, South Korea and NATO agreed to begin a mutual recognition process as well.