The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Monday said the grounded FA-50 fighter jet fleet will still be available for deployment if there's an urgent national security situation or any other serious contingency that requires them to fly.
“In case of any contingency that will require our FA50s to fly, specifically if it is an urgent national concern, then it can be sent out to fly the mission,” PAF spokesperson Col. Maria Consuelo Castillo told DAILY TRIBUNE in a Viber message.
The PAF grounded all of its remaining FA-50s pending an investigation into an ill-fated incident involving one of its jet fighters with a tail number 002, while conducting a tactical night operation in the Bukidnon area on 4 March.
“We call it administrative grounding. But anytime our aircraft is urgently needed for any national concern, we will fly them,” Castillo said.
She stressed that the FA-50 fleet's temporary grounding will not hinder the PAF's operations.
She also noted that the PAF has alternative aircraft that can be used for regular patrols and other critical missions.
Despite the tragedy, Castillo said the PAF personnel, particularly the fighter pilots, remain determined and committed to serving the nation.
Major Jude Salang-oy, a graduate of Philippine Military Academy Class of 2014, and First Lt. AJ Dadula, a graduate of the PAF Officer Candidate School (OCS), perished in the aircraft accident.
Castillo stated that the entire fighter wing is finding inspiration in the bravery and heroism of the fallen pilots, noting that their sacrifices will serve as their powerful motivation to continue advancing and fulfilling their duty to the nation.
“The fighter wing family is in deep mourning together with the whole Philippine Air Force. What happened however, will only further strengthen us and push us to continue serving the nation, inspired by the courage and heroism displayed by our fallen comrades,” Castillo noted.
The Philippines acquired the FA-50 fleet from South Korea’s primary aerospace company, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), for P18.9 billion, with the delivery made in batches from 2015 to 2017.
The FA-50PH has a top speed of Mach 1.5, which is one and a half times the speed of sound. It is equipped with hard points, allowing it to carry air-to-air missiles, including the AIM-9 "Sidewinder" heat-seeking missiles, in addition to light automatic cannons, machine guns, and bombs.