Production of FA-50PL Light Fighters for Poland Delayed by at Least Two Years

Poland’s Armaments Agency and Korea Aerospace Industries have officially revised the FA-50PL delivery schedule, postponing the start of deliveries until mid-2027.

The Aviationist reported the delay.

On January 9, 2026, the Polish Armaments Agency and Korea Aerospace Industries signed an addendum to the original September 2022 contract, formally shifting the delivery timeline for the FA-50PL.

Under the initial schedule, the aircraft were to be delivered between 2025 and 2028. According to the updated plan, the first FA-50PL is now expected in mid-2027, with all 36 aircraft due to be delivered by early 2029.

The delay is attributed to a combination of factors, including supply chain constraints, integration of advanced avionics and U.S.-made weapons, notably the AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120C AMRAAM missiles, as well as broader geopolitical considerations.

The FA-50PL is being developed as a significantly more capable platform than the existing FA-50GF, tailored to Poland’s operational requirements. Key upgrades include Raytheon’s PhantomStrike active electronically scanned array radar, an aerial refueling capability, the AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod, a helmet-mounted display, increased external fuel capacity, and compatibility with AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120C AMRAAM air-to-air missiles.

While Poland has already signed an agreement with the United States to support integration of the AIM-9X short-range missile on future FA-50PL aircraft, integration of the AIM-120 AMRAAM remains planned for a later stage.

In addition to the FA-50PL delay, initial plans had called for upgrading 12 FA-50GF aircraft to the FA-50GL configuration. However, in late 2025, it was reported that the upgrade was deemed “economically unjustified,” and the aircraft would instead be used primarily for pilot training.