we really need a transition fighter from the obscure f-5 to the modern ones... i think this is a fitting jet for the job since it can train our pilots for more advance fighters and at the same time provide some muscle from the air...
What most people fail to realize is that the PAF lost its fighter capabilities more than 10yrs ago. As such, the necessary knowledge and skill in flying and maintaining such assets were lost as well.
The fa-50 was aquired to address that problem. It was meant to "return" the PAF to the fighter age. Not to counter china, not to secure Philippine air space, but to train and prepare PAF pilots and gound crews alike for future MRF acqusitions.
Some people think that the fa-50 is useless because it stand little chance against other nations MRFs. Some think that it would have been better if the PAF went straight to true MRFs like the f-16 or gripen instead of a LIFT aircraft. What they dont realize is while it is posible to have some of our pilots undergo training in other countries for them to be "mrf qualified", the PAF will inevitably have to train its own pilots. Using very expensive MRFs with high flight hour cost and consuming their precious airframe life to train rookies is not cost effective. A LIFT would still be necessary. The PAF decided to go LIFT first. Train and establish a pool of "qualified" pilots first and aquire true MRFs later rather than the other way around..