The Polsat news team visited a factory where South Korean fighter jets are manufactured for the Polish army. Six fighter jets have already reached the final assembly line. This is a significant acceleration since in early September there were only two machines on the same line. Very intensive testing is also underway on the prototype. This is where the system used by the Polish Air Force for the target version of the FA-50PL fighter jet is installed.
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The issue of production delays for the FA-50PL has become a political issue in recent weeks, with politicians arguing in parliament. According to information from Polsat News, Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Beyda was heavily involved in accelerating the pace of work over the past two months. From early September to October, he spoke in South Korea about the FA-50 fighter jet.
South Korea. Polish military fighter
The FA-50PL is a target version of the Korean fighter for the Polish army, which differs significantly from the gap-filler version. Twelve fighters of this version were sent to the tactical air base of Minsk Mazowiecki, near Warsaw, to protect it from liquidation.
The Polish version will be equipped with the revolutionary American Phantom Strike radar, which is more powerful than the radar currently used by Polish F-16 pilots, and will feature a targeting pod, Scorpion helmet display, Finally, it also has mid-air refueling capabilities. And new avionics.
Integration of equipment into fighter aircraft. US consent required
Chung Ho Yoon, Executive Vice President and General Director of KAI Aviation Program, agreed to an interview with Polsat News reporter Michał Stella. This is the second time this year that a representative of the Korean manufacturer's management board has given an interview to Polish media.
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After all, the reason for the above-mentioned delay was the absence of official American consent to integrate this equipment into the FA-50PL. Poland needs the consent of the Americans, but the Koreans are also putting pressure on the Americans.
– In theory, KAI has no authority to interact with the US government. Only the Polish government is authorized to interact with the US government. But we will take advantage of every bilateral relationship we have with the U.S. government, the military industry, and our friends. We call on the US government to accelerate this process, which is important for the Polish Air Force, said Chung Ho Yoon in a conversation with Michał Stella.
Asked about the possibility of the issue being resolved in the coming months, he said: “Even in the worst-case scenario, I think it will be resolved by the end of the first quarter of next year,” he said.
Video: Chung Ho Yoon of Polsat News
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The first FA-50PL is scheduled to fly in November next year. South Korea has not yet received consent to integrate the weapons, but most have technical documentation as they have integrated equipment in other projects. Therefore, although there is no formal agreement, the integration is expected to be completed within the next few months. According to Polsat News, the first test radar of the Phantom Strike radar will appear in South Korea in January, and the next radar will appear in February.
– PhantomStrike radar is currently under development. Its technical premise fits our fighter very well, but we need to certify, test and check it on our equipment and platforms. Chung Ho Yoon emphasized that flight tests should be conducted in the United States.
South Korea. Polish FA-50 fighter jet contract
As part of the FA-50PL contract, Poland ordered a feasibility study on the integration of the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. Since the radar and missile are manufactured by the same company, it is unlikely that problems will arise. However, it is the lack of these missiles in the FA-50PL equipment that is causing the most emotion in Poland.
Chung Ho Yoon confirmed to Polsat News that the company is in talks with the American side about integrating the missile with the FA-50PL. – We sent all our engineers to the United States to consult with Lockheed Martin, the in-vehicle systems company, and RTX, the radar manufacturer. He stressed that he believes that the work related to the feasibility study can be completed until the first fighter jet is handed over to the Polish Air Force.
Once the feasibility study is ready, it will take some time to integrate.・Working time can be shortened. (…) It takes 36 months. First, you need to think about how to perform the integration, which is always a software issue and validation takes time, Chong Ho Yoon said.
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