Manila, July 25 -- The Philippine Air Force (PAF) welcomed South Korea's pledge to deliver by 2028 the first batch of the 12 FA-50 Block 70 light combat aircraft it has acquired from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).

"The PAF welcomes any development that will significantly expedite the enhancement of our air defense capabilities, as we also appreciate commitments such as this from our regional partners that highlight our strong security cooperation," PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said in a message to reporters late Thursday.

South Korean Ambassador to Manila Lee Sang-hwa, in a luncheon meeting with the press on Tuesday, said Seoul targets to deliver three out of the 12 FA-50 aircraft to the Philippines before the end of P...