Manila, Seoul elevate defense ties with combat aircraft acquisition

The Philippines will buy 12 South Korean-made FA-50 Block 70 light combat aircraft under a $700 million agreement that will double Manila’s FA-50 fleet and boost the nations’ defense ties. The acquisition marks “a significant enhancement to the country’s air defense capabilities and aligns with the DND’s [Department of National Defense] comprehensive archipelagic defense concept,” the DND said in mid-June 2025, referring to a strategy prioritizing territorial defense and national sovereignty.

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