Lorenzana Says PH Open to Acquiring Military Planes, Boats from Spain

05 November 2018

C-295 variant for Long Range Patrol Aircraft of the PAF (photo : Daniel Guerra)

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday said that the Philippines is open to the possibility of acquiring planes and boats from Spain after the European country expressed its desire to participate in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program.

In an interview, Lorenzana said all countries making planes and boats can participate in the modernization program of the AFP but the Philippines and Spain should have an MOU (memorandum of understanding) first before they enter into a defense deal.

“Mag MOU muna bago tayo magkaroon ng mga military to military exchanges. Iyun ang ginagawa natin. (There should be an MOU first before we have military to military exchanges. That what we do),” Lorenzana said.

Spain shipyard could offer Corvettes for the Navy (photo : Navantia)

“Of course, all countries making (planes) boats can participate in the program. Their boats have to pass our TWG (Technical Working Group) inspection and comply with the TOR (terms of reference) and technical specifications in accordance with the needs of the end user. Then they have to participate in the bidding,” he said.

The defense chief said one company from Spain where the country can purchase airplanes and boats is EADS CASA, a Spanish aircraft manufacturer, previously Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA). It became the Spanish branch of EADS in 1999 and was absorbed by Airbus Military in 2009.

CASA has been a part of EADS, the European aerospace corporation, with Aérospatiale-Matra of France, Dornier GmbH and DASA of Germany since 1999. From then, the Spanish branch of EADS has been called EADS-CASA, which has 7,500 workers.

“Iyung company ng (The company of) CASA makes airplanes also boats. Remember that Spain was once a world power, naval power before kaya marunong silang gumawa ng (that’s why they know how to make) boats,” he said.

(Manila Bulletin)