Delivery of South Korean FA-50PL jets to Poland was expected next month, but it now appears delayed by as much as 18 months, allegedly due to poor management by the former leadership of the manufacturer KAI (Korea Aerospace Industries).
According to South Korea's state media KBS News, cited by Defense24, the delay concerns the Poland-specific variant of the FA-50, ordered in a batch of 36 aircraft. Twelve standard FA-50GF (Block 10) jets had already been delivered in November 2022 without issues.
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KAI explains that the delays stem from problems integrating the PhantomStrike radar, which they agreed to install even though it was still in development. Completed fuselages are now waiting for radar installation, which only first flew a little over four months ago.
Without this key component, the FA-50 cannot carry AIM-9X missiles, another Polish requirement. Additionally, KAI is reportedly unhappy with the unit price of 50 billion won (approx. $36.6 million), significantly lower than the previously reported $58 million.
Poland signed a $3 billion contract for 48 aircraft in September 2022 to replace the MiG-29s transferred to Ukraine. To expedite delivery, Poland paid 30% of the contract upfront.
Now, KAI fears that delays will damage its reputation and turn what was a major export opportunity into a liability. Defense Express notes that Poland has been caught in a corruption scandal implicating KAI's former leadership for multiple failures, poor risk assessment, and cronyism a situation not uncommon in South Korea.
It is also possible this is an attempt by the company to shift blame onto individuals. Without additional information, it is difficult to know, but concerns about the FA-50PL had surfaced earlier, especially due to the U.S. refusal to integrate medium-range AIM-120 air-to-air missiles.
While previous acquisitions such as K2 tanks, K239 Chunmoo MLRS, and K9 howitzers went smoothly and stayed within budget, Polands luck with the FA-50PL seems to have run out. Nevertheless, the contract is signed, and there are no indications of cancellation, so the lesson is to watch how this situation develops.
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