Special Allotment Release Order Issued for Acquisition of FA-50 Air-to-Air Missiles

05 September 2017

FA-50PH with AAM and AGM (photo : Update)

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved and released, early last month, the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the Department of National Defense’s Fighter/Surface Attack/Lead-In Fighter Trainer (F/SA/LIFT) Aircraft Munitions Acquisition Project Lot 1 under the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program.

Release of SARO means fund for a specific project will be released by the government giving a government agency the green light conduct bid or award the contract.

SARO for F/SA/LIFT Aircraft Munitions Acquisition Project Lot 1 amounts to PHP1,016,787,204.00 which will provide air-to-air missiles of Philippine Air Force (PAF) FA-50PH Fighting Eagle aircraft.

In early July, it was reported that post qualification inspections of Raytheon Missile Systems Co. for their AIM-9L/I-1 Sidewinder offer for the above mentioned acquisition project was completed.

“With the government releasing the SARO to cover the funding for the acquisition of short-range air-to-air missiles for the Philippine Air Force late last month, it would mean that the post-qualification inspection for Raytheon Missile Systems was favorable, and that the proejct awarding could have already happened, and contract signing could be happen soon,” MaxDefense Philippines said.

F/SA/LIFT Aircraft Munitions Acquisition Project is divided into several lots. Lot 2, 3, and 4 are fro acquisition of air-to-ground missiles, countermeasures, and 20mm ammunition, respectively.

(Update)