DND Finalizing TOR for Acquisition of 12 Fighter Jets

KAI F/A-50 Golden Eagle (photo : Militaryphotos)

QUEZON CITY, (IW) -- To beef up the security capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Department of National Defense (DND) is finalizing the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the acquisition of 12 fighter jets from South Korea. 

DND Undersecretary Fernando said that the acquisition of fighter jets remains a priority. He also said that the TOR for the acquisition of 12 FA-50 fighter jets may be completed in a month. 

The TOR provides the details of acquisition to include the fighter jets technical features, price, payment scheme, and the time frame for the delivery of said equipment. 

Security officials are currently going through the details of acquisition, and likewise the government is hoping that negotiations with South Korea will begin soon. 

The government has allocated P18 billion for the acquisition of said fighter jets to beef up the capability of the Philippine Air Force. 

Meanwhile, DND chief Voltaire Gazmin also ordered to fast track the acquisition of 21 UH-I Huey helicopters which costs P1.26 billion. 

Gazmin hoped that the procurement of the 21 helicopters will be completed in July. 

(PIA)

Philippines to Receive Riverine Patrol Boats from US

The Silver Ship’s new 40 feet Riverine Patrol Boats can hit speeds of 40 knots. 

(all photos : Militaryphotos)

(IW) -- The Philippine Navy (PN) is set to receive six riverine patrol boats (RPBs) from the United States in August under a US Navy (USN) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract.

A Silver Ships riverine patrol boat (RPB) on trial in the United States.1513348A Silver Ships riverine patrol boat (RPB) on trial in the United States. (Silver Ships)

According to an official at manufacturer Silver Ships, a contract was signed with the USN in September 2011 and the boats were completed a year later. However, delivery was delayed until early May this year due to "non-availability of marine transport".

Although the boats are capable of open-water operations, they will be used primarily in shallow waters. They have a length of 40 ft, a beam of 10 ft 8 inches and a draft of less than two feet.

The boats feature a centre console configuration and a bow ramp to permit egress of embarked troops during beaching operations. They have three weapon mounts - two forward and one aft - for machine guns and grenade launchers as well as ballistic protection.

Powered by two Hamilton HJ-292 waterjets, each driven by a Yanmar 6LY2A-STP diesel producing 440 hp, top speed is 40 kt. Fully loaded, range is greater than 250 n miles at a cruising speed of more than 30 kt.

Besides Silver Ships, fellow US boatbuilder Willard Marine is supplying unspecified numbers of 7 m Sea Force 730 outboard rigged-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) to the PN under an FMS programme.

In other news, the PN announced in March it was looking to buy three more multi-purpose attack craft (MPAC) to add to its fleet of six vessels. "This acquisition is under our mid-term development plan for 2014-2017," said PN spokesperson Lieutenant Commander Gregory Fabic.

The MPACs are similar to the CB-90 Combat Boat. The first three were constructed by Lung Teh Shipbuilding in Taiwan, while the following three were built locally to a revised design by Propmech Corporation, based in Subic Bay. The PN is hoping to later acquire 42 MPACs but funding remains an issue.

(Jane's)

New Navy Choppers to be Delivered December

AW109 Power, naval helicopter (photo : firenews)

FORT SAN FELIPE, Cavite City. (IW) -- The Navy is expected to receive this December three new helicopters that are seen to boost its maritime security capabilities.

Navy chief Vice Adm. Jose Luis Alano said the three helicopters would constitute the first batch of air assets to be delivered by the supplier AugustaWestland S.P.A.

The government is acquiring a total five AW 109 Power helicopters from the Anglo-Italian firm for P1.3 billion.

“We are looking at the acquisition of naval helicopters. The initial batch will be arriving by December this year,” Alano said on the sidelines of the Navy’s anniversary celebration here.

“The helicopters (were acquired through) the proper procurement process,” he added.

In its website, AugustaWestland described the AW 109 as “a versatile aircraft that offers the highest level of benefits for government and military markets, combining optimum performance with cost-effectiveness.”

The helicopters can be used for maritime security, search and rescue and surface surveillance, among other operations.

The government and AugustaWestland signed the contract for the acquisition of the helicopters last December.

In a recent statement, Vincenzo Alaimo, AgustaWestland’s head of regional sales for Southeast Asia, said the AW 109 would “provide the Philippine Navy with an enhanced maritime operational capability.”

Meanwhile, Alano said they are looking forward to the arrival of a warship they acquired from United States (US) this August.

Alano said the acquisition of the BRP Ramon Alcaraz would provide them with the added capability to enforce Philippine maritime laws.

Officials previously expected the ship to arrive last January but the schedule was pushed back due to the need for repairs and personnel training. The government spent more than P600 million to acquire the vessel.

BRP Alcaraz was acquired from the US Coast Guard and was largely used for law enforcement, drug and migrant interdiction and search and rescue.

BRP Alcaraz can accommodate up to 180 personnel and was named after Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, a Navy officer who commanded a patrol boat during World War II.

It is the second vessel acquired by the Philippines from the US, the first one being BRP Gregorio del Pilar, which was commissioned in December 2011.

(PhilStar)