FA-50 Light Attack Aircraft, First Flight Over Polish Airspace

Flying Over Warsaw Skies on the Occasion of Armed Forces Day

The domestically produced light attack aircraft FA-50 made its first flight over Polish airspace. It marked the presence of a Korean-made aircraft in the European aviation market, which had long been dominated by advanced aerospace companies from the United States, France, Italy, and others.

FA-50GF (first) is flying over Warsaw, Poland together with a MiG-29. (Photo by KAI)

On the 16th, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) announced that the first and second FA-50GF units delivered to the Polish Air Force successfully completed their inaugural local flight in celebration of the Polish Armed Forces Day the previous day.

The FA-50GF took off from Minsk Air Base and flew over Warsaw, the capital of Poland. The FA-50 flew in formation alongside the Polish Air Force’s MiG-29s, and after the MiG fighters left the formation, the FA-50 naturally took over, symbolizing the transition to the new aircraft.

Polish President Andrzej Duda stated, “Security is the most important foundation of a nation,” adding, “The Polish military will establish a strong defense capability that no one can challenge through modernization with the latest weapon systems.”

KAI plans to use Poland as a marketing hub and focus on expanding the FA-50’s presence in the European market. The FA-50GF, which successfully completed its first local flight, will be showcased to the Polish public through ground displays and demonstration flights at the Radom Air Show in Poland from the 26th to 27th. The third and fourth FA-50GF units are scheduled to be delivered locally in September to prepare for handover, with a total of 12 units to be initially delivered by the end of this year.

Of the 48 units contracted by Poland, 36 will be delivered sequentially from the second half of 2025 through 2028 in the FA-50PL configuration, an upgraded version reflecting the Polish Air Force’s requirements.

Going forward, the Polish Air Force plans to deploy the FA-50 in various missions including light attack, special tactics, and combat operations, operating it as a key platform for airspace defense.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.