This news item is one of good achievements of the President. Though we are really
weak militarily, it is inspiring in the other sense that we can rise.
The achievements of Korea must inspire us. We must do the same, to manufacture fighter jets and naval ships like them.
We must stop the buying outside by spending our little dollars in reserve. We must spend our billions of pesos domestically to create jobs and firing up our modernization in industries if Defense Industry is launched.
The achievements of Korea must inspire us. We must do the same, to manufacture fighter jets and naval ships like them.
We must stop the buying outside by spending our little dollars in reserve. We must spend our billions of pesos domestically to create jobs and firing up our modernization in industries if Defense Industry is launched.
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines said Friday a deal has
been reached to buy 12 fighter jets worth P18.9 billion ($415.7 million) from
South Korea as the country struggles to modernize its military.
“We did not only inch closer, we are almost there,”
Undersecretary Fernando Manalo, chairman of Bids and Awards Committee, told
reporters in Camp Aguinaldo Friday after Manila and Seoul reached a conclusion
on the negotiations for the acquisition of 12 FA 50 lead-in fighter jets.
“We are considering it [FA-50 lead-in fighter jets] as not
just an ordinary lead-in fighter because it can deliver short range missile and
there is a potential for these to be classified as beyond the short range
fighter aircraft,” Manalo said.
The deal came amid a seething territorial conflict with
China over the resource-rich West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
The acquisition of fighter jets is one of the two big ticket
items in the P85-billion AFP Modernization Program. The other is the purchase
of two brand new frigates worth P18 billion.
The FA-50 is a new light combat aircraft manufactured by
Korea Aerospace Industries. It is a light combat version of the T-50 Golden
Eagle supersonic advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft.
The deal was reached after seven months of negotiations with
the Korean firm.
The first two fighter jets will be delivered 18 months after
the contract signing, which is targeted before March 15. The delivery will be
completed in 2017.
The Philippine military is one of the weakest in Asia, and
retired the last of its US-designed F-5 fighters in 2005.
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