AgustaWestland AW-109 armed helicopter version. 10 attack
helicopters, 21 Huey helicopters, 3 medium-lift fixed-wing aircraft, and 12
lead-in fighter-trainer will be purchased before year end as part of the
P75-billion for Armed Forces modernization program (image : Airvectors)
Air Force to
Get 10 More Attack Helicopters
BEFORE the
end of the year, the Philippines would have 10 new attack helicopters, and the
go-ahead has also been given for the purchase of 12 surface attack aircraft/lead-in
fighter-trainer (SAA/LIFT) to form part of the P75-billion modernization
program of the Armed Forces.
This was
revealed by the Air Force commander, Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino de la Cruz, who flew in from Europe through
the Middle East on Monday afternoon, after participating in the Farnborough Air
Show in the United Kingdom (UK).
“I was able
to take a firsthand look at some of the industry participants, talk to some of
them and would now report to senior leaders in the Armed Forces the best
options available for the country,” he said during a brief interview at the
airport.
De la Cruz said
the four contenders for the jetfighter are Italy, Korea, Russia and the UK.
Agusta A-129 Mangusta attack helicopter (photo : btgsanmarco)
The purchase
of the attack helicopters has been approved and these would be provided by
Italy.
“I was in
Italy to look at some of the attack helicopters that were offered and
hopefully, we will have them by the end of the year,” he added.
He said the
Philippines preferred the Italian models because they are cheaper compared to
those made by Americans, which are top of the line and are very expensive.
The attack
helicopters would replace the ageing OV-10 “Bronco” armed reconnaisance planes
and MG-520 attack helicopters currently in the Air Force inventory.
De la Cruz
said the acquisition would be purely for defense purposes.
“The Armed
Forces concentrated on dealing with internal insurgency until we realize the
need for credible defense following the row with China over the Spratlys,” he
said.
The present
Air Forces inventory has 43 aircraft, consisting of one S-211 trainer jet, two
OV-10 “Broncos,” four MG-520 attack helicopters, nine T-41 trainers, 16
SF-260FH trainers, four UH-1H “Huey” helicopters, three Fokker F-27
“Friendship” aircraft, one C-130 “Hercules” transport aircraft, and four newly
acquired Poland-made Sokol helicopters.
AgustaWestland AW-119 armed helicopter (photo : finmeccanica)
Col. Miguel
Okol, Air Force spokesman, said the command was given authority to proceed with
the 38 projects lined up to beef up its assets. These include the purchase of
medium and light lift aircraft as replacement for the C-130 “Hercules” troop
and transport carrier, long-range patrol aircraft, radars, SAA/LIFT and attack
helicopters.
From one of
the best in Southeast Asia in the 1960s, the Air Force fleet gradually
deteriorated and became obsolete without being replaced, leaving the country
with no external defense capability.
To upgrade the
entire military’s capabilities, the Department of National Defense and Armed
Forces are working to fast-track the approval by July this year of a total of
138 contracts.
The
contracts, mostly aimed at boosting badly depleted air and naval assets, would
be implemented during the Aquino administration.
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