PHL Sends Letter of Request to Government of Multirole Fighter Jet Supplier

17 Oktober 2019

F-16 block 70/72 Viper (photo : rhk111)

The Department of National Defense (DND) has already sent a Letter of Request to the government of possible supplier in the Multirole Fighter Acquisition Project for Philippine Air Force (PAF).

MaxDefense Philippines said it got confirmation from sources that DND already sent the Letter of Request to the government of the selected aircraft’s origin.

“This country is known to announce its decisions so we’ll all know when it happens. And hopefully it happens soon,” MaxDefense Philippines said without mentioning the country and aircraft.

However, MaxDefense has been giving hints that the DND is in the process of concluding a deal for the F-16 multirole fighter aircraft.

“All I can say for now is that it will still be passing through AT LEAST 1-2 more stages before it reaches the top,” MaxDefense said in an earlier post. “One thing is for sure though: the last parts would be for Pres. Duterte to approve it, and the Department of Budget and Management to accept it for funding release. As far as MaxDefense was told by people involved in the project, they’re not yet there yet.”

JAS-39 Gripen C/D (photo : Maxdefense)

Under Section 36(b) of United States Arms Export Control Act (AECA), US Congress must be formally notified before the executive branch can take final steps to conclude a government-to-government foreign military sale of: major defense equipment valued at $14 million or more, defense articles or services valued at $50 million or more, or design and construction services valued at $200 million or more.

“[T]he executive branch, after complying with the terms of applicable US law, principally contained in the AECA, is free to proceed with an arms sales proposal unless Congress passes legislation prohibiting or modifying the proposed sale. Under current law Congress must overcome two fundamental obstacles to block or modify a Presidential sale of military equipment: it must pass legislation expressing its will on the sale, and it must be capable of overriding a presumptive Presidential veto of such legislation,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) says in its official website.

(Mintfo)