Thursday, August 09, 2012

Korea to discuss export of 12 trainer jets to Philippines

It is likely that Korea’s trainer jets will be exported to the Philippines.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration said Tuesday that Korea and the Philippines will hold their 16th bilateral joint commission talks on military cooperation in Manila from Aug. 13 to 16.

An official said that the two governments will deal with the export of TA-50s to the Philippines at the talks. The TA-50 is the earlier version of the advanced T-50 supersonic trainer jet.

Local media in Manila reported in June that the Philippine Air Force plans to import 12 TA-50s over two years. However, the Korean government denied the report, saying, “There was no official discussion, or request for a proposal.” The value is estimated at 400 billion won.

The two countries reportedly agreed to trade TA-50 trainer jets, rewriting the bilateral pact on procurement of defense supplies. The revision has extended the defense supplies subject to private contract for complex weapons system, such as warships and aircraft. Park Chung-won, deputy administrator of the agency, will lead the Korean delegation in the talks with the Philippines.

“What the Philippines actually needs is TA-50 of Korea, a model a step nearer to a light attack aircraft,” the official said. “It’s highly probable that the Philippines will sign a contract once the military secures funds from the central government.”

It is reported that the Philippine defense authorities expressed their intention to purchase the TA-50 trainer jets to President Benigno Aquino III early this month. The Philippines is determined to set aside 70 billion pesos (approximately 1.9 trillion won ) involving the modernization program to the beef-up the Air Force.

Korea’s T-50 Golden Eagle is a jet trainer and light attack aircraft designed to provide pilot training for current and next-generation fighters such as the F-15, F-16, F-18, F-22, F-35, the Eurofighter and Mirage supersonic jet interceptors.

Meanwhile, with a weak military capability, the Philippine Air Force and the Navy failed to intercept 26 foreign intrusions into Philippine territory during the first quarter of this year, not including the stand-off at the Panatag Shoal or Scarborough Shoal by scores of Chinese vessels since April.

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The Korea Times | August 8, 2012 | Article Link

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous10:34 PM

    If cannot secured fund then everything it goes on the air only;

    This must be procured immediately for the territorial defense do not delay and be shameful to your neighbor we as Pilipinos we are already been humiliated because of our Govt. posture do not have dignity and we the people of the country suffer a big set back of what those politician do to our country.

    ReplyDelete

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