Aquino renews commitment for AFP modernization

MANILA, Aug. 17 (PNA) -- President Benigno S. Aquino III renewed his administration’s commitment to modernize the country’s armed forces to ensure peace and security. 

During his speech at the fellowship meeting with the Philippine Air Force Aviation Cadet and Officer Candidate Alumni Association Inc. (PAFACOCAAI) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Thursday evening, the President acknowledged the need of the Philippine Air Force for modern and additional aircraft that will guard and protect the Philippine territory. 

For instance, he said, the air force had only one C-130 cargo plane and flying times had to be divided among the pilots to accommodate all of them. 

“Ito po ang dahilan kung kaya’t isinusulong na natin ang pagpapasa sa New AFP Modernization Bill, na siyang mag-e-extend sa pagpapatupad ng ating AFP Modernization Program,” the President said. 

“Pitumpu’t limang bilyong pisong (P75 billion) paunang pondo ang nakasaad sa panukalang batas mula sa Department of National Defense ang inihain para sa unang limang taon ng implementasyon nito,” he said. 

Under the program, more aircraft and helicopters will be purchased, initially trainer aircraft so that pilots will have the know-how to fly once fighter jets arrive, the President said hoping that the fighter aircraft arrive ahead of schedule. 

As new planes arrive, the President said, the flying hours of PAF’s pilots would also increase as well as their capability to serve the people. 

Aside from providing the new equipment and planes, the government is also building decent homes of the country’s soldiers to improve their lives, President Aquino said. 

The government has completed the Phase I of the housing projects for soldiers this year, building 21,800 new homes for them, the Chief Executive said. 

Under Phase II of the program, he said, additional 31,200 new houses would be built for the members of the military, the police, fire fighters and prison guards. The project is expected to be completed in August next year. 

“Naniniwala nga po tayo: kung mayroon kang isang lipunang kumakalinga sa iyo, mas nabibigyan ka ng kakayahang gampanan ang iyong tungkulin, at arugain ang iyong mga kababayan,” the President said adding that he envisioned an armed forces that can readily respond to any future challenge. 

As the country traverses the righteous path, the President said Filipinos could now achieve their dream for prosperity and better security. 

“At kapag may kapayapaan, kapag may kaayusan, wala na nga tayong ibang patutunguhan kundi tuloy-tuloy na kaunlaran,” he said. 

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Philippine News Agency | August 17, 2012 | Article Link

DND eyes Korea, Brazil for military aircraft

The Department of National Defense said Thursday that it is eyeing government-to-government transactions with South Korea and Brazil for the procurement of T-50 advanced jet trainers and Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano turboprop light attack aircraft.

 

In a phone patch interview with reporters, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said that these aircraft are needed to protect Philippine airspace.

 

The South Korean built T-50 is a supersonic trainer that can also perform in the light-strike role. The Super Tucano is designed for light attack, counter insurgency (COIN), close air support, aerial reconnaissance missions.

 

Government-to-government, or G2G, transactions are non-commercial interactions between two governments’ organizations, departments, and authorities.

 

Gazmin made the disclosure amid criticisms from Bayan Muna party list Rep. Teddy Casiño that the use of G2G transactions in the acquisition of military equipment is prone to corruption due to lack of bidding.

 

Gazmin countered that G2G transactions will eliminate middlemen who benefit from commissions, thereby resulting in cheaper acquisition prices.

 

Also, Gazmin gave assurances that under the transparency program of the Aquino administration, “all contracts and processes are open to scrutiny by the people.” He said this transparency is being observed in the bidding for similar assets.

 

“If you are going to go through a third party, there will be commissions and the price will be higher. Now, in government to government (deals), middle men are avoided and at the same time, government officials are accountable in their dealings,” he said.

 

The DND is also looking to obtain ships and communication equipment from either South Korea, Italy, France, Great Britain or Brazil. These acquisitions are also to be carried out through G2G transactions.

 

“But nothing is final yet,” said Gazmin.

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GMA News Online | June 21, 2012 | Article Link

Air Force to beef up fleet with South Korean-made jets

MANILA, Philippines - As part of the modernization of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), the military plans to acquire a dozen South Korean-made fighter jets in the coming months.

Twelve TA-50 fighter jets from South Korea, each costing P1.25-B, will arrive in the Philippines by 2013, ABS-CBN News reported Wednesday, June 20.

The total cost will be P25 billion, or around US $ 591 million.

The TA-50 aircraft is based on the T-50 supersonic trainer jet, and, according to Yonhap News, is a "full-fledged attack platform" that can carry precision-guided weapons.

The fighter jet is part of the T-50 family of aircraft, developed by the Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. The T-50 family is touted as the "only 21st century supersonic advanced trainer and light attack jet."

The TA-50 has an embedded radar and reinforced weapon capacity compared to the original T-50 model, and is said to be fitted with machine guns and AIM-9 Sidewinder weapons, and can carry bombs and AGM-65 Maverick missiles. It was first built last year.

The acquisition of the fighter jets is part of the P70 billion modernization plan for the Armed Forces of the Philippines under the current administration.

The planes will be part of the aging and minimal PAF fleet, which currently only has 2, 25-year-old S-211 trainer jets and an unusable F-5 fighter jet.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin told ABS-CBN News that beefing up the country's air defense capabilities is needed to strengthen not just the fleet but also our image abroad.

Last month, President Benigno Aquino III said the government has been planning to purchase fighter jets made outside the United States.

Back in April, the country requested aircraft, patrol boats and radar systems from the US military to help it achieve "minimum credible defense."

Among the choices the government had, Aquino said back in May, was to buy second-hand F-16s from the US, but maintenance costs could be too high because of their age.

The country previously relied on obsolete US hand-me-downs, and the country currently has no effective air defenses.

The news also came as the standoff between the Philippines and China enters its 3rd month

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Rappler.Com | June 20, 2012 | Article Link

Philippines to buy 12 new jet fighters in 2 years - Air Force

MANILA -- In a bid to strengthen the country's territorial defense capability, the Philippine Air Force is set to acquire 12 brand-new trainer jet fighters in a span of two years.

Col. Miguel Ernesto Okol, PAF spokesman, told Interaksyon.com that these Surface Attack Aircraft/Lead in Fighter Trainers (SAA/LIFT) will cost P1.5 billion each for a total of P14 billion to P15 billion.

The Air Force is waiting for the approval of President Benigno Aquino III before it can start the bidding process for the jets. Once approved, delivery can start either late 2013 or early 2014.

Okol said the brand new jets will be used to train Filipino pilots and can also "double as our surface attack and fighter aircraft," he said. 

"It can be a trainer jet but at the same time it can also be used for surface attack to address our territorial defense," he added.

Okol said the jets can be used to monitor the country's air space, including intrusions from foreign aircraft. This will be a great complement to the radars that will also be purchased soon.

The country's air assets are sorely lacking in capability as compared to other Asian neighbors.

Okol said that to date, the Air Force has only three ageing S-211 trainer aircraft and one radar for territorial defense.

Aside from the jets, the PAF eyes more acquisition under the defense acquisition system. These include of three medium lift transports, eight light lift transports, 10 attack helicopters, three air defense radars and two long-range patrol aircraft.

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Abigail Kwok | InterAksyon.com | June 20, 2012 | Article Link