Philippines Gunning For Full Air Power Package

SECRETARY of the Philippines’ Department of National Defense (DND) Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has proposed for the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) multi-role fighter (MRF) programme to proceed as a full package comprising the fighter aircraft, airborne warning and control system/airborne early warning and control (AWACS/AEW&C) as well as aerial refuelling tankers.

“It is not only the purchase of the MRF, per se, which we need to deal with but also to make the MRFs operational as a force package, meaning to say, we need the AWACS capability. A lot of countries have experienced the fact that they are realising that they need AWACS, notwithstanding the fact that their satellite capability is not enough,” Teodoro said during a media briefing earlier this week.

He noted that the DND are in constant coordination with the Department of Finance (DOF) and Department of Budget Management (DBM) regarding available funding.” It is easy to buy and like the first tranche. However, what we do not want is to buy, you know, have orders, have deliveries and not being able to use them for their optimal use and just have them flying air shows. That we will not countenance,” he added.

The Philippines reportedly allocated an estimated US$1.08 billion for the MRT programme, with reports on the MRF candidates being shortlisted to Saab’s JAS-39C/D Gripen and Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Block 70/72.

In April, the US Department of State approved the possible foreign military sale (FMS) of 20 F-16C/Ds. According to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) release, the Philippines government requested to procure 16 F-16C Block 70/72 and 4 F-16D Block 70/72 aircraft along with 24 F110-GE-129D or F100-PW-229 Engines as well as other equipment. Though, the PAF had said it had yet to receive a formal offer. Saab has been consistently offering the Gripen to the PAF over the past few years.

In the meantime, the PAF confirmed submission of a proposal on acquiring an AWACS/AEW&C platform as part of the Re-Horizon H3 modernisation programme. Saab could possibly offer their range of AWACS/AEW&C platforms, with PAF officials previously inspecting the Saab 340 AEW&C when the platform was not on the PAF’s radar. AWACS/AEW&C aircraft have been in the spotlight following the recent India-Pakistan aerial skirmish.

Saab told ADJ that interest in the GlobalEye had also seen an increase recently, particularly from Southeast Asia. In the immediate region, only Singapore and Thailand operate AEW&C platforms from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Saab respectively.

Early last month, the PAF confirmed a US$700 million deal from South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for a dozen additional FA-50PH light attack fighters. This adds on to the PAF’s current inventory of 12 FA-50PHs which is down to 11 after one crashed in March.–shp/adj/dl (Pix:USAF)