We will ask the Supreme Audit Office to review the contract for the purchase of South Korean FA-50 aircraft “within the framework of decision-makers,” Deputy Head of the Ministry of National Defense Cezary Tomczyk announced in the Sejm today. According to him, former head of the Ministry of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak did not include in the contract the purchase of the necessary weapons for these fighter jets.
During today’s Sejm session, the deputy head of the Ministry of National Defense answered questions from KO deputies about the purchase, deployment and operation of South Korean FA-50 combat training aircraft. The Polish Air Force has 12 FA-50GF (Gap Filler) aircraft, operated by pilots of the 23rd Tactical Air Base. Eventually, there will be 48 of them, including another 36 in the FA-50PL version.
Tomczyk said the contract for another 36 aircraft is “largely at risk.” He attributes this to former Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak, who led negotiations with the Korean side and finally ordered the machines in 2022.
He said new “disturbing information” shows that in the case of the FA-50PL version, which the Polish Air Force is awaiting, there will be delivery delays of up to 9 months.
The deputy head of the Ministry of National Defense admitted that the FA-50 aircraft undoubtedly fill the gap left by the MiG-29 aircraft, many of which were transferred by Poland to Ukraine within the framework of the international coalition of countries.
This gap had to be filled with something, and in retrospect I can say that this plan is a necessary plan.
– said Tomczyk.
He added that the pilots themselves rate the fighters highly.
What about weapons?
However, as he stressed, the problem is the contract concluded by Minister Błaszczak, in which “basic issues were not addressed”.
The decisions on the purchase were made very quickly, in fact, within a few days, and the interests of the Republic of Poland and the Polish Army were simply not served.
– he assessed.
As the deputy minister explained, the 12 aircraft that arrived in Poland in the version ordered by Błaszczak are “probably the world’s first non-combat training aircraft”. He explained that the implementation contracts did not provide for the purchase of weapons for fighters.
So we have a training and combat aircraft, which is training but not combat.
– he said.
Tomczyk assured that the Armament Agency and the Ministry of National Defense are doing everything to provide weapons for the FA-50, but these negotiations should take place before the selection and purchase of the aircraft is made.
This is absurd. We negotiate before we buy something, not after we buy it.
– he turned to Błaszczak.
In addition, the deputy head of the Ministry of National Defense announced that armament for the FA-50 is no longer produced.
It is difficult to buy weapons for this plane today because it is not produced
– he emphasized.
He added that the Armament Agency is trying to find on the market the possibility of renting or acquiring used weapons to enable the operation of the aircraft and training on it in training and combat mode.
Request to the Supreme Audit Office
Thus, Tomczyk announced that the Ministry of National Defense will ask the Supreme Court of Auditors to carry out an “in-depth analysis of this contract within the scope of the decision-makers themselves”.
In other words, with regard to the decision to buy a training and combat aircraft for which, first of all, weapons are not purchased, because today we are in a phase in which such weapons are not available
– he explained.
He mentioned other problems with the fighter contract: lack of proper certification, which resulted in the machines being grounded for several months. In addition – as the deputy minister said – the construction investment plan during the Błaszczak government did not include PLN 2 billion for the preparation of airport infrastructure. At the same time, he announced that the necessary rooms for aircraft simulators will be ready in December this year.
According to Tomczyk, the Ministry of National Defense expects the Korean side to create a service center “that goes beyond the operational capabilities of the air base.”
This is an element that is absolutely crucial for us from the point of view of the interests of the Republic of Poland and from the point of view of this contract. In fact, a letter of intent has been signed on this matter. We hope that this contract will also be implemented in this regard.
– he said.
Help with modernization
The deputy minister recalled that the Ministry of National Defense also expects assistance from the United States in the modernization of the FA-50. The fighters will be modernized from the Gapfiller version to the PL version in a few years. Tomczyk explained that the United States “must consent to the elements related to the armament of this aircraft.”
This is a subject under negotiation today, but it is actually very difficult to negotiate after the contract is concluded.
– he emphasized.
Poland and South Korea established a strategic arms partnership on July 27, 2022. Since then, as a result of the signed framework agreements, Poland has ordered modern military equipment from Korean manufacturers, in addition to FA-50 aircraft, including: K9 self-propelled howitzers and Chunmoo rocket launchers.
The FA-50 is a South Korean two-seat light combat aircraft. Its basic armament is a 20 mm cannon and several types of suspended weapons, including AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles, and several types of aerial bombs.
Mariusz Błaszczak’s answer
Former Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak reacted with disbelief and indignation on social media to the speech of the deputy head of the Ministry of National Defense Cezary Tomczyk. He stressed that the narrative about the impossibility of acquiring weapons for the FA/50 is false and that Donald Tusk’s government wants to prevent further investment in the Polish armed forces.
INCREDIBLE! Every day we hear about an arms contract that is thrown in the trash by the Ministry of National Defense. Today, the deputy minister of the PO announced that the contract for 36 more FA/50 aircraft is at risk. Their opinion that you cannot buy weapons for the FA/50 is absurd and an attempt to explain away their own incompetence.
— Rated X by Mariusz Błaszczak.
In his opinion, the PiS government has nothing to criticize when it comes to security policy, the clearest proof of which is the large arms purchases that have been made in recent years.
The balance of arms contracts canceled by the current management of the Ministry of National Defense continues to grow: K2 tanks, Himars launchers, K9 howitzers, FA/50 aircraft. In addition, there are two contracts already signed for which they cannot find financing: Chunmoo launchers, Krab howitzers
– said the former head of the Ministry of National Defense.
The purchase of the FA/50 was necessary and needed so that Polish pilots could gradually move away from post-Soviet aircraft. These are good and proven combat and training aircraft that not only increase our deterrence potential, but also reduce the costs of training F-16 pilots, because they were designed by the same company and the differences in the piloting method are minimal. We negotiated fast deliveries because the Koreans gave us their production slots.
– he explained in more detail.
Mariusz Błaszczak also cited the opinion of an expert, General Nowak, in the context of the purchase of FA/50 aircraft.
“If you are an F-16 pilot, you get into the FA/50 and you are basically at home,” said General Nowak, the Air Force Inspector General, about the Korean aircraft. The presence of the FA/50 in the Polish Air Force also alleviates the heavy use of the F-16. Korean aircraft were supposed to take part in NATO air policing missions.
– Mariusz Błaszczak noticed.
