South Korea, Colombia Sign Military Airworthiness Certification Agreement

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) signed a mutual recognition agreement for airworthiness certification for military aircraft with the Colombian military airworthiness authority.

The agreement signed on Wednesday in the Colombian capital, Bogota paves the way for the export of the Korean Aerospace Industries’ FA-50 fighter jet to the Colombian Air Force. The FA-50 is a contender for Colombia’s fighter replacement program along with the Saab Gripen and F-16.

Through this mutual recognition agreement, it will be possible to omit Colombia's airworthiness certification for Korean aircraft in the future project to replace the Colombian Air Force's aging light attack aircraft, a DAPA statement said.

This is expected to help secure export competitiveness by reducing the time and cost required for certification.

The agreement was signed by DAPA Deputy Director  Kang Hwan-seok, and  Lt. Gen. LUIS CARLOS CORDOBA AVENDANO, Commander of the Colombian Aerospace Force.

Airworthiness certification assures that an aircraft is suitable for flight safety and can demonstrate intended performance and functions, and its recognition by the another country is acceptance of  the flight safety and performance of a domestically produced aircraft.

This is South Korea's sixth mutual recognition of airworthiness certification for military aircraft with Colombia, following the United States, Spain, France, Australia, and Poland, and the first with a South American country.

In the recent past KAI has exported the FA-50 light strike fighter to Poland, Malaysia and Egypt and has made a strong pitch to Colombia due to its cost-competitiveness compared to the F-16 jet and Saab Gripen.