The Peruvian government plans to acquire dozens of FA-50 light combat aircraft from South Korea to modernize and expand its air force.

Local media sources said negotiations with aircraft manufacturer Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) are now in the advanced stages for the potential delivery of 20 to 24 FA-50s.

A letter of intent is expected to be signed in the coming weeks, and an official contract is anticipated by the end of the year.

Lima could reportedly spend up to $780 million if the deal goes through.

The country’s planned FA-50 acquisition follows a successful KT-1 trainer program, which delivered 20 aircraft to the Peruvian Air Force.

Both the FA-50 and KT-1 trainer aircraft are manufactured by KAI.

Outperforming Other Offers

Based on the T-50 supersonic advanced trainer platform, the FA-50 is fitted with a modern tactical data link, precision-guided munitions, and a self-protection subsystem.

It can be armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles, and MK-92 500-pound (227-kilogram) bombs.

Media outlet Pucara Defense disclosed that the Peruvian government has received fighter jet offers besides the South Korean jet.

These included the Super Tucano from Brazil’s Embraer, the M346 combat aircraft produced by Italy’s Leonardo, and the Scorpion jet manufactured by US aerospace giant Textron.

Although the Brazilian fighter jet is significantly cheaper than the FA-50, it is reportedly inferior to the South Korean jet in terms of air defense and attack capabilities.

Lima was also uninterested in the Scorpion aircraft due to its apparent lack of global customers. Reports indicate that the fighter jet has not been sold to any air force in more than a decade.

Local Production

Peru chose the FA-50 because KAI allows the participation of Peruvian defense firms in the development of the aircraft.

Of the 20 KT-1 trainer aircraft previously delivered to the South American country, 16 were assembled locally by SEMAN (Maintenance Service) at the Las Palmas Air Base.

The government wants the majority of the FA-50s to be assembled on home soil to ensure that they are tailored to the needs of the Peruvian Air Force.

Once the deal is finalized, the South Korean aircraft will replace Peru’s aging fleet of Soviet-era MiG-29s and Mirage 2000Ps, which are reaching 40 years in service.