Poland has completed a lease agreement with South Korea for AIM-9P Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles to equip its FA-50GF fighter aircraft, Polish Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Bejda announced Jun. 25.
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The agreement enables Poland’s FA-50GF fleet to conduct air-to-air combat missions for the first time since the aircraft arrived in December 2024. The 12 jets, manufactured by Korea Aerospace Industries, had previously been limited to training operations due to their lack of air-to-air weaponry.
“All procedures have been completed, including the lease contract for AIM-9P Sidewinder short-range missiles with South Korea,” Bejda wrote on social media. “We are finalizing additional procedures for purchasing weapons for the FA-50 and will announce details soon.”
The missile lease contract was signed Jun. 24 between the Polish military procurement agency and the Republic of Korea Air Force, following internal reviews and approval from both the South Korean and U.S. governments. A South Korean Air Force official confirmed the missiles came from retired aircraft and would not affect the country’s current defense readiness.
Poland’s FA-50GF aircraft currently carry only ground-attack weapons, including Mk 82 general-purpose bombs, GBU-12 laser-guided bombs, and AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles. The addition of air-to-air missiles allows the aircraft to participate in NATO air defense missions alongside Poland’s F-16 and planned F-35 fighters.
The AIM-9P lease serves as an interim solution while Poland awaits approval for more advanced missiles. Polish forces want to equip their FA-50s with newer AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, but RTX, the manufacturer, requires U.S. government authorization for those exports.
Poland signed a contract with KAI in 2022 for 48 FA-50 fighters total. The remaining 36 aircraft, designated FA-50PL, will feature upgraded systems including AIM-9X air-to-air missiles, Thales helmet-mounted targeting systems, PhantomStrike AESA radar, and Sniper targeting pods.
The missile lease follows a meeting Jun. 24 between South Korean Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Young-soo and Polish Air Force Commander Ireneusz Nowak at South Korean Air Force headquarters.
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