- Yes
- No
- Independent Polish tech tree
- Premium/Squadron Vehicle
- Other Tech tree Vehicle
- I said no
First of all:
- Feel free to share more information, historical facts, or correct me if you spot any technical inaccuracies.
- Please discuss respectfully. Any form of toxicity, aggressive behavior, or verbal abuse will be reported immediately. Forum rules apply here!
Historical Background in Poland
When Poland went shopping for a fighter in 2022, the urgency wasn’t about modernization for its own sake. It was war next door. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had just exposed how thin Poland’s air force really was, and Warsaw needed something fast, not something that would take a decade to arrive.
That’s where South Korea’s KAI stepped in. In July 2022, Polish Deputy PM and Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak confirmed that talks were underway for a major arms package with Seoul, and the FA-50 was part of it, a proven light fighter that could be built and delivered on a wartime timeline rather than a peacetime one.
The paperwork moved almost as fast as the jets would later fly. A framework agreement covering all 48 aircraft was signed on July 27, 2022. The actual procurement contracts, which locked in the details and the split between variants, followed on September 16, 2022, dividing the order into 12 FA-50GF jets pulled straight from South Korean production to plug the gap immediately, and 36 FA-50PL aircraft tailored to Polish requirements, to follow later.
KAI then delivered on a scale it hadn’t managed before. The first FA-50GF rolled out of the Sacheon factory on June 7, 2023, just months after the contracts were signed, and KAI itself described the Polish program as its fastest FA-50 delivery effort to date. The first two jets touched down in Poland in early August 2023 and were based at 23. Baza Lotnictwa Taktycznego in Mińsk Mazowiecki. By December 28, 2023, all twelve Block 10 FA-50GFs stood lined up on the tarmac in front of Polish Air Force cameras.
For Poland, it wasn’t just a purchase, it was a first. It became the first European operator of the FA-50 anywhere in the world. For KAI, Poland became the opening act of a much bigger European ambition, with hopes of selling well beyond the initial order across the continent.
The story isn’t finished yet. The remaining 36 aircraft, upgraded to the FA-50PL standard with AESA radar, aerial refueling capability and expanded weapons options, were originally slated to start arriving in the second half of 2025, though the program has since slipped and deliveries are now expected to run through 2026 to 2028. Once in service, they’re meant to complement Poland’s existing F-16 fleet and operate alongside the country’s future F-35s.
FA-50GF Radar
Click here to view full Specification of FA-50 Radar
The Polish FA-50GF, the first batch of 12 aircraft delivered in 2023, uses the Israeli-made EL/M-2032 radar from Elta Systems. It’s a mechanically scanned array (MSA) radar, not an AESA system, reflecting the aircraft’s Block 10 “Gap Filler” configuration.
This sets it apart from the future FA-50PL, which will carry a proper AESA radar. The upgrade is one of the biggest differences between the two variants: the EL/M-2032 handles basic air-to-air and air-to-ground detection and targeting, while the AESA radar planned for the FA-50PL will bring better range, resolution and the ability to track more targets simultaneously.
Despite the simpler radar, the GF still carries Link 16 datalink and NATO-standard IFF, so it can operate and share data within NATO’s air defense network even without the more advanced sensor suite reserved for the PL variant.
EL/M-2032 Radar Specifications
- Manufacturer: ELTA Systems (IAI Group, Israel)
- Type: Pulse-Doppler, multimode airborne fire-control radar
- Antenna: Mechanically scanned, low-sidelobe planar antenna
- Frequency Band: X-band
- Weight: 72–100 kg (depending on configuration)
- Air-to-Air Detection & Tracking: up to 80 nm (150 km)
- Air-to-Ground Detection & Mapping: up to 80 nm (150 km)
- Air-to-Sea Detection & Tracking: up to 160 nm (approximately 300 km)
- Air-to-Air Modes: RWS, STT, TWS, SAM, DTT, Raid Assessment (RA), ACM
- Air Combat Modes: Vertical Scan, Slewable ACM, HUD ACM, Boresight, Adaptive Boresight
- Air-to-Ground Modes: Real Beam Map (RBM), SAR, SMTI, SMTT, Air-to-Ground Ranging (AGR), Beacon, Weather, Terrain Avoidance
- Maritime Modes: Sea Search, Sea Targets TWS, Sea Target Continuous Track (STCT), ISAR, Sea Target Classification
- Capabilities: Pulse-Doppler, all-aspect detection, look-down/shoot-down, monopulse tracking and guard channels
- SAR Resolution: Up to 3000 × 3000 image pixels
- Also Integrated With: FA-50, F-5, Mirage, MiG-21, F-16 and other fighter aircraft
Armament & Combat Potential
The Polish FA-50GF is a light, no-nonsense trainer-fighter. It doesn’t carry the huge weapons menu of a heavier NATO jet, but what it does carry is enough to get the job done: air policing, close air support, and getting pilots ready to move up to something bigger.
Click Here to view full Armament List
Internal Gun:
- 1x General Dynamics A-50 (M61A2 Vulcan derivative), 20 mm rotary cannon (205 rounds)
Air-to-Air Missiles (AAM):
- AIM-9 Sidewinder (Short-range infrared-guided missile)
Air-to-Ground Munitions:
- AGM-65 Maverick (Infrared/TV-guided precision air-to-ground missile)
- Mk 82 (500 lb general-purpose bomb)
- Mk 83 (1,000 lb general-purpose bomb)
- GBU-12 Paveway II (Laser-guided version of the Mk 82)
- JDAM-equipped Mk 82/83 (GPS/INS-guided precision bombs)
Unguided Weapons:
- Hydra 70 mm rocket pods (unguided air-to-ground rockets)
Targeting Systems:
- AN/AAQ-33 Sniper (Targeting pod for laser designation and precision strike)
Technical Specifications & Performance of FA-50GF
Click Here to view full Technical Specifications & Performance
- Crew: 1 (Pilot), 2 in twin-seat configuration
- Length: 13.14 m
- Wingspan: 9.45 m
- Height: 4.82 m
- Empty Weight: approx. 6,470 kg
- Max Takeoff Weight: 12,300 kg
- Powerplant: 1x General Electric F404-GE-102 turbofan
- Thrust with afterburner: 78.7 kN (17,700 lbf)
- Max Speed: Mach 1.5 (approx. 1,837 km/h)
- Service Ceiling: 14,630 m (48,000 ft)
- Range: approx. 1,851 km
- G-Limit: +8 / -3 G
- Radar: Elta EL/M-2032 (mechanically scanned, X-band)
- Targeting Pod: AN/AAQ-33 Sniper
- Defensive Systems: standard RWR (radar warning receiver); no dedicated jammer/EW suite integrated on the GF variant
More Photos of FA-50GF history
Why should it be added to War Thunder?
The FA-50GF would fit nicely into the mid-tier aviation lineup as a light, agile fighter with a distinct playstyle, built around good maneuverability and a practical strike loadout (AIM-9 Sidewinder, AGM-65 Maverick, laser/GPS-guided bombs) rather than raw firepower. It would make a solid addition to a future Polish sub-tree, offering variety for players who want something other than another heavy multirole jet.
Thank you very much for your time, I hope you enjoyed reading this suggestion!
Sources and References:
- Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) Official Press Releases: https://www.kai.co.kr
- Elta Systems / IAI – EL/M-2032 Radar Technical Data Sheet: https://www.iai.co.il
- Defence24 (Polish Defense News Portal): https://defence24.pl
- Aviacionline (Aviation News, FA-50GF Delivery Coverage): https://aviacionline.com
- Scramble.nl (Military Aviation News Archive): https://scramble.nl
- Sejm RP – Official Parliamentary Interpellation Response on FA-50GF (Ministry of National Defence): https://api.sejm.gov.pl
- Shephard Media (Defence Industry News): https://shephardmedia.com
- AIN Online / Forecast International (KAI FA-50GF Rollout Coverage): https://ainonline.com
