Korean Air Force showcases jets in Pampanga air show CLARK FREEPORT—South Korea’s supersonic jets buzzed over an air base here in Pampanga on Sunday, turning the skies into their playground, as they showed dazzling aerobatic maneuvers in the first of a series of air shows in the Philippines this week. Spectators cheered under the searing midday sun as eight black, white and gold T-50B advanced trainers of the Republic of Korea Air Force (Rokaf) performed half an hour of 23 aerial stunts, including a giant heart drawn in the sky with an arrow shot through it. Other maneuvers left trails of blue, white and red smoke, while another stunt featured two aircraft flying from opposite directions at close range, as though crashing into each other. The program also featured a brief “friendship flight” with four of the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) FA-50 light fighters, the combat-capable derivative of the T-50 trainer aircraft. Both planes were built by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). The Philippines bought 12 FA-50 light attack aircraft from KAI for P18.9 billion in 2015. * Friendship flight It was not the first time the two KAI-built aircraft flew together, however. In 2022, the Philippine and South Korean jets staged a show at Basa Air Base in 2022 when the Black Eagles first performed in the country. Maj. Gen. Park Chang Kyu, commander of the Rokaf’s Air and Defense Control Command, said the friendship flight represented “the deep trust and cooperation” between the two countries, which are marking the 75th year of diplomatic relations this year. Park recalled in his speech that the Philippines sent 7,000 troops during the Korean War and was among the first Southeast Asian countries to establish diplomatic ties with South Korea. He also honored Filipino veterans and the 112 soldiers who offered their lives “in defense of the freedom and peace of the Korean Peninsula.” At the start of the program, the guest of honor, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., said the Philippines and South Korea still shared the same values when the two fought together “against tyranny and oppression” more than 70 years ago. He said both countries were committed to “[ensuring] a free and open Indo-Pacific, to freedom of navigation on the seas, to respect of international law and against encroachment… through the use of brute force by stronger powers.” The defense chief left the event early for other personal commitments. * 3 days of air shows Sunday marked the first of three days of air shows by the Rokaf’s 53rd Air Demonstration Group, or widely known as Black Eagles. The first day was intended for the top defense and military officials, Korean Embassy officials and defense exhibitors. The next two days will be open to the public. The Philippines is the second and final stop of the Black Eagles after performing at Singapore’s Changi Airport last February during the Singapore Airshow, a biennial aerospace event. KAI has been offering to export additional FA-50s and its future KF-21 Boramae multirole aircraft to the PAF. The FA-50 light fighters were touted as “game changers” during the Marawi siege, a five-month battle between government troops and Islamic State-linked militants in 2017, which killed thousands. KAI and other Korean defense companies such as Dasan Engineering and LIG Nex 1 set up booths at Clark Air Base to showcase their equipment. South Korea, one of the world’s top arms exporters, has been a major source of defense equipment for the Philippines. It is currently building six offshore patrol vessels and two corvettes for the Philippine Navy for a combined P58 billion. Seoul recorded $14 billion in exports in 2023 and aims to become one of the top four global defense exporters by 2027. Aside from Korea, Sweden has been offering its Saab Jas-39 Gripen aircraft while the United States has been pitching Lockheed Martin F-16 for the PAF’s multirole fighter acquisition project. https://globalnation.inquirer.net

필리핀 클락 프리포트에서 열린 공군 에어쇼에서 한국 공군의 초음속 제트기들이 멋진 에어로뱃틱 비행을 선보이며 객석의 환호를 받았습니다. 대한민국 공군의 T-50B 고급 훈련기 8대가 하늘에 마음 모양을 그리며 화살을 쏘는 등 다양한 곡예 비행을 펼쳤죠. 비행 프로그램에는 필리핀 공군의 FA-50 경전투기도 짧은 우정비행을 선보여 양국간의 우호를 강조했습니다. 양국은 긴밀한 협력 관계에 있으며, 올해는 양국이 수교 75주년을 기념하는 해입니다. 필리핀은 한국항공우주산업(KAI)으로부터 12대의 FA-50 항공기를 구입했으며, 이러한 비행은 양국의 방위산업 협력과 전략적 파트너십을 보여주는 사례라 할 수 있습니다. 한국과 필리핀은 과거 한국전쟁에서 함께 싸웠으며, 필리핀은 최초로 한국과 외교관계를 수립한 동남아시아 국가 중 하나입니다. 에어쇼는 총 3일간 진행되며, 첫째 날은 주로 방위 및 군 관계자와 코리아 엠버시 관계자, 방위산업 전시회 참가자들을 대상으로 했습니다. 이후 날짜는 일반인에게 공개됩니다. 한편, 한국은 수출 물량 확대를 지향하고 있으며 KAI는 추가 FA-50과 미래의 KF-21 보라매 다목적 전투기 판매를 필리핀 공군에 제안하고 있습니다. 필리핀은 한국이 주요 방위 장비 공급국 중 하나로, 한국이 필리핀 해군을 위해 해상순찰선과 초계함을 건조하고 있으며, 이는 합계 약 580억 페소에 이르는 대규모 계약입니다. 필리핀은 현재 전투기 도입 프로젝트에 있어서 스웨덴의 Saab Jas-39 Gripen과 미국의 Lockheed Martin F-16 등 여러 국가로부터 제안을 받고 있기도 합니다. 이러한 정황은 양국 관계뿐 아니라, 방위산업 협력과 지역 안보에서의 필리핀의 전략적 위치를 강조합니다.

현재 블랙 이글스 에어쇼 예약 상황 및 오류 관련해서 확인이 불가능합니다. D구역은 사전 예약없이도 입장 가능하도록 오픈한다고 하오니, B, C 구역 예약을 못하신 분들은 "반드시" 신분증을 가지고 오시면 D구역 현장 입장 가능하실 것 같습니다.

멋집니다 대한민국 화이팅

아쉽네요 가까운 지역이면 꼭 참관하고 싶었는데~~~

d구역 입장 가능 하다고 하니.. 가보려고 하는데요 찾아가는길 어디를 검색해야 할까요

대한민국 공군 화이팅!