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World28 November 20152 min read

Philippines acquires 1st supersonic fighter jets

The Philippines has taken delivery of the first two Korean-made fighter jets, the country's first supersonic combat aircraft in a decade, as it strengthens its military amid a territorial conflict with China. The Philippine military says the FA-50 jets touched down on Saturday at

Editorial Team Legacy

Published 28 November 2015, 8:00 · Updated 18:24

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Philippines acquires 1st supersonic fighter jets

The Philippines has taken delivery of the first two Korean-made fighter jets, the country's first supersonic combat aircraft in a decade, as it strengthens its military amid a territorial conflict with China.


The Philippine military says the FA-50 jets touched down on Saturday at Clark Freeport, a former US Air Force base north of Manila, to applause from security officials led by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. It bought a total of 12.

Gazmin says: “We're glad we're finally back to supersonic age.”

The Philippine military, one of Asia's least equipped, has been building up its air force and navy at a time of an escalating territorial feud with Beijing in the South China Sea.

Its last fleet of supersonic combat aircraft, the F-5, was decommissioned in 2005.

Photo Caption: Two newly-acquired FA-50PH fighter jets taxi on the runway upon landing Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015 at Clark Air Base in Pampanga, province north of Manila, Philippines. The first two of the 12 brand new fighter jets from South Korea, arrived Saturday as part of the country's modernization program and to mark the air force's return to "supersonic jet age." (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

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