Poland leases AIM-9P missiles to arm FA-50 jets – official

Poland has sealed a deal to lease short-range AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles from South Korea for its FA-50 light combat and trainer aircraft after more than a year of negotiations, Deputy Defense Minister Pawel Bejda has said.

Polish FA-50.

Photo: X/Paweł Bejda

The missiles will serve as an interim solution until the FA-50s are upgraded to the FA-50 PL standard, which is expected around 2030 and will enable use of newer AIM-9X weapons. Bejda said further FA-50 armament contracts are “being finalized”.

Poland ordered 48 FA-50s from Korea Aerospace Industries in September 2022. Twelve GF-variant aircraft, delivered between July and November 2023, lacked key armaments.

Earlier this month Warsaw contracted Mildat Sp. z o.o. to supply 50,000 rounds each of HEI M56A3 combat and TP M55A2 training 20 mm ammunition within 12 months.

Leasing, rather than purchasing, the decades-old AIM-9P version allows Poland to bridge the capability gap while awaiting the FA-50 PL aircraft. Thirty-six of those upgraded jets are due to start arriving from 2027.

Bejda said on social media platform X that the Sidewinder lease takes effect immediately, marking a further step in fully arming Poland’s new fleet.

(jh)

Source: TVP Info