[Defense Commentary] Will the FA-50 Become Stronger?

[Monthly Defense Times Editor-in-Chief An Seung-beom] Recently, it has been reported that the additional production of FA-50 fighter jets is being considered as a replacement plan for the aging F-5 fighters. The FA-50 fighter jets are currently operated in a total of 60 units across two squadrons of the Air Force’s 8th Fighter Wing and one squadron of the 16th Fighter Wing.

Between 2018 and 2019, units operating the FA-50 and the Defense Logistics Command proposed specific requirements and plans for an FA-50 upgrade program. Since the FA-50 is a fighter developed based on the advanced trainer T-50, it has limitations in mission radius, range, and endurance, which need to be improved.

To increase the FA-50’s range, endurance, and mission radius, options such as introducing a 300-gallon auxiliary fuel tank with a larger fuel capacity than the current 150-gallon tank or equipping the aircraft with aerial refueling capability have been suggested.

The Air Force prefers increasing the external fuel capacity of the FA-50. However, it is known that the development required to introduce the 300-gallon auxiliary fuel tank would take 61 months. For a rapid replacement of the aging fighters, this should be done after the existing FA-50 production.

Additionally, to lift operational restrictions on the ammunition used by the FA-50 (such as MK.82, GBU-38, AGM-65G), measures have been proposed to resolve asymmetric wing mounting issues and to expand speed and G-limit envelopes for weapon employment. Integration of a 1,500-pound class medium-range air-to-ground missile into the FA-50 system has also been suggested.

Although the FA-50 is an aircraft designed for short-range missions, increasing its endurance is necessary because the Army’s requirements for Close Air Support (CAS) and Attack (ATK) during wartime are extensive. The Air Force’s main fighters, such as the F-15K and KF-16, are assigned missions to penetrate deep beyond the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) for target strikes or air-to-air combat.

Regarding precision-guided munitions, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has developed system integration for the export version, including the Sniper pod and GBU-12 laser-guided bombs, through its own investment. The GBU-12 guided bomb is the most widely possessed and used weapon, enhancing precision strike capability on the front lines.

Even applying this level of upgrade to the FA-50 fighter jets immediately would help reduce the mission burden on F-15K and KF-16 fighters. To protect the valuable lives of pilots and alleviate anxiety during routine missions, additional production of at least a minimum number of FA-50s is necessary. Unlike the F-5 fighter, the FA-50 can sufficiently perform the role of a precision strike fighter-attack aircraft focused on the DMZ in case of emergency.

The KF-21 fighter is a medium-class aircraft, and the Air Force’s consideration to maintain combat capability and fighter inventory by concurrently introducing additional F-35As as a high-class fighter is understandable. If additional production is decided, it is expected to be manufactured on the TA-50 Block 2 tactical trainer production line, which is scheduled to be completed in early 2024.