The contract is worth about 101.4 billion won and runs through 2028, the company said.
KAI said it previously signed a one-year PBL pilot contract worth 27 billion won with the Philippines in December 2024, the first such deal with an export customer. It said the pilot delivered stable operations and high aircraft availability, leading to the three-year agreement.
PBL provides logistics support based on operational performance such as aircraft availability and maintenance reliability. KAI described it as an advanced support model designed to ensure stable support over an aircraft life cycle of 30 to 40 years.
KAI said it has run PBL programs for about 15 years, starting with the South Korean Air Force’s KT/A-1 in 2010 and expanding to the T-50 and Surion aircraft families.
The Philippines is a key FA-50 operator for KAI. It first introduced 12 FA-50PH aircraft in 2014 and has built a close relationship with KAI through follow-on support and logistics assistance over about 10 years, the company said.
Based on that relationship, the Philippines last year signed contracts to acquire an additional 12 FA-50PH aircraft and to upgrade the performance of the FA-50PHs exported in 2014, KAI said.
KAI said the Philippines deal follows a PBL contract signed with Thailand in April last year and reflects a pattern in which aircraft exports are followed by sustained support, then expanded through additional purchases and upgrade projects.
Park Kyung-eun, executive vice president and head of KAI’s CS division, said the company will build tailored follow-on support systems optimized for each country’s operating environment and needs.
“Through this, we will secure sustainable export competitiveness and further expand our presence in the global aerospace and defense market,” Park said.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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