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KAI FA-50PH Golden Eagle - Defeating the Competition
Hi and welcome to my 81st, which is about the Philippine FA-50PH, hope you like it. 
First of all:
- Feel free to share more Information and / or correct me if something is wrong
- Discuss respectfully, any aggressive kind or verbal abuse will be reported, the Forum rules also apply here
Background History
The T-50 program was all about creating an indigenous trainer that could fly at supersonic speeds. Its main purpose was to get pilots ready for planes like the F-16 and F-15, taking over from the old T-38 and A-37 trainers the ROKAF was using. The lineage of the T-50 series, particularly the FA-50 variant, bears a striking resemblance to the configuration of the KF-16. The groundwork for this endeavor, termed the KTX-2 program and initiated in 1992, faced a setback in 1995 when financial constraints led to its suspension by the Ministry of Finance and Economy. Nonetheless, the basic design for the aircraft was established by 1999.
Funding came mostly from the South Korean government (70%), with KAI chipping in (17%) and Lockheed Martin (13%). The T-50 got its official name, the “T-50 Golden Eagle,” in February 2000. The U.S. military saved the “T-50A” name to avoid mix-ups. The first T-50 has been assembled between in 2001 and took its first flight in August 2002. KAI and Lockheed Martin were working together to sell the T-50 globally. In December 2003, the ROKAF signed up for 25 T-50s, expecting them between 2005 and 2009.
The first T-50s had Lockheed Martin’s AN/APG-67(v)4 radar and a F404-GE-102 engine with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) made by Samsung Techwin under license.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) selected 12 FA-50 fighter aircraft to meet its light attack and lead-in fighter trainer needs. Originally announced in 2012 as a TA-50 purchase, the FA-50PH variant was confirmed in January 2013. By March 2014, a contract worth $421 million was signed, and deliveries began in November 2015, concluding by May 2017. The aircraft were used in combat, including strikes against terrorist groups in Mindanao in 2017, and in later operations such as an anti-ship exercise in 2020.
During Pitch Black 2024, FA-50PHs of the Philippine Air Force are said to have beaten Gripen C/Ds of the Royal Thai Air Force 10-7 in dogfights.
Armament of the FA-50PH
The armament of the FA-50PH is relatively similar to that of the other Golden Eagles from the ASEAN region. The Philippine variant, however, has AGM-65G2 Mavericks, interestingly AIM-9Bs, as well as the European AIM-9L/i - All-Aspect AIM-9L with IRCCM.
The on-board armament is still a three-barreled M61A1 with 205 rounds.
Air-to-Air Missiles
- 2x AIM-9B
- 2x AIM-9L/i
Dumb-Bombs / Rockets
- 6-8x Mk.82
- 2-4x LAU-3
Air-to-Ground Missiles
- 2-4x AGM-65G-2
Specifications, Electronics and Internal
- Crew: 2
- Length: 13.13 m
- Wingspan: 9.45 m
- Height: 4.85 m
- Max. takeoff weight: 12.383 kg
- Powerplant: 1x F404-GE-102
- Dry thrust: 53.07 kN
- Afterburner thrust: 78.7 kN
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.5
- Service ceiling: 16.700 m
- Rate of climb: 198 m/s
- Thrust to weight: 0.96
- Maximum g-load: +8g / -3g
Thanks for your time, hope you liked it 
[Will add more if there are some (more) important / declassified things]
[PM or comment if a Link or Picture isn´t working]
Sources:
Links
DEFENSE STUDIES: Hasil penelusuran untuk FA-50PH
필리핀에 FA-50 전투기 수출한 KAI…해외 첫 후속 군수지원 사업 따내 -디지틀조선일보(디조닷컴 dizzo.com)
https://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/article/3332392/
AAG_th บันทึกประจำวัน: ฟิลิปปินส์มองการจัดหาเครื่องบินขับไล่โจมตี FA-50PH จากเกาหลีใต้เพิ่มเติม
KAI T-50 and FA-50 Golden Eagle | Thai Military and Asian Region
Balikatan live-fire drill participants sink retired WWII corvette | Philippine News Agency
DND acquires 'Sidewinder' air-to-air missiles | Philippine News Agency
Philippine Air Force receives AIM-9L/I-1 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, AGM-65G2 Maverick air-to-ground missiles ~ MaxDefense Philippines
List of Suggestions of ASEAN region
