Deputy Prime Minister, head of the Ministry of National Defence Mariusz Blaszczak signed an agreement on Friday for the delivery of 48 South Korean FA-50 light combat aircraft for the Polish armed forces. “New prospects are opening up for the Polish armed forces; it is a generational leap,” Blaszczak said.
On Friday, at the 23rd Tactical Aircraft Base in Minsk Mazowiecki, in the presence of President Andrzej Duda, Deputy Prime Minister, head of the Ministry of National Defence Mariusz Blaszczak signed a contract for the delivery to the Polish armed forces of 48 South Korean FA-50 light combat aircraft.
“It is yet another historic day as new prospects are opening up for the Polish Armed Forces,” Blaszczak said during the ceremony.
The head of the Ministry of National Defence stressed that the new FA-50 aircraft would replace the old MiGi-29s and considered the change a generational leap. “The 48 FA-50 aircraft will be a significant reinforcement of the Polish air force,” he added.
Wicepremier-minister obrony narodowej @mblaszczak zatwierdził umowy wykonawcze na dostawy koreańskich samolotów FA-50 dla #WojskoPolskie. #Modernizacja pic.twitter.com/ppT8Qzfb2i
— Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej (@MON_GOV_PL) September 16, 2022
The first 12 FA-50 aircraft will arrive in Poland next year. According to Blaszczak, they will be configured in the way they are used by South Korean forces. In turn, another 36 aircraft will be configured according to the additional requirements of the Polish air force. It has been announced that in November this year, the first Polish pilots will fly to South Korea to train on the FA-50.
“The agreements also include a training package with trainers, simulators, and a logistics package. We also agreed that a service centre will be established in Poland on the basis of cooperation between Korea Aerospace Industries and the Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ),” Blaszczak said.