Ny jagerflytype til Manila - Curt Lewis

 

First New Fighter Jets to Touch Down in Philippines

Manila is buying 12 FA-50 combat planes amid growing tensions in South China Sea

A T-50 advanced jet trainer takes off during training at the First Fighter Wing of the South Korean air force in Gwangju, south of Seoul, in this Aug. 14, 2013 file photo. The Philippines is buying the weaponized FA-50 version. 

MANILA-The Philippines has lacked fighter jets for 10 years, but that situation-which has long embarrassed the military here-is set to end Saturday when two Korean-built FA-50 fighters touch down at Clark Air Base north of Manila.

The planes' delivery is a milestone in the Southeast Asian country's efforts to build a "minimum credible deterrent" in the face of growing external threats, notably from China in the hotly contested South China Sea. The Philippines' neighbors have similar territorial concerns and are also investing heavily in new weaponry.