S. Korea Moving Closer To Lockheed F-16 Deal

This post is enough for us, the Philippines to think, and rethink our policies toward the AFP Modernization program. As we enter in the atmosphere of war, and the intense importance to protect our sovereignty, we need to to the same as Koreans are doing right now. We"ll have to build our capability the right way. We'll to make partnerships and manufacture the jets we need in the air to deter threats.
Now is the time. Look at Korea...

SEOUL AND WASHINGTON — South Korean officials are expected to approve a plan this week paving the way for Lockheed Martin to take over its F-16 upgrade program.

A Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) spokesman said his agency is scheduling a top decision-making council Nov. 19 to approve a plan to change the KF-16 partner company, following cancellation of a $1.7 billion BAE Systems contract to give 134 KF-16 fighters new avionics and radar systems.

“We believe the KF-16 upgrade project can’t go forward further under the existing contract,” he said. “That’s why we’re seeking to sign a fresh deal with a new partner.”

While unnamed, the partner is assured to be Lockheed, the original producer of the jets, which has been lobbying behind the scenes since the issues between DAPA and BAE first surfaced in October.

A pair of KF-16 C/D Block 52 jets has already been sent to a BAE factory in Fort Worth, Texas, to be equipped with an up-to-date mission computer, cockpit-display and other avionics systems. Phase 2 of the upgrades would have involved the integration of the Raytheon active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, ALR-69A all-digital radar warning receiver and weapon systems integration.

A new Lockheed contract would likely fill similar needs, but may swap out Raytheon’s AESA for Northrop Grumman’s model. Lockheed selected Northrop to provide radars on its contract to upgrade Taiwan’s F-16 fleet.

The news comes as BAE filed a lawsuit against DAPA to block what the company calls an unfair attempt by South Korea to claim $43 million in punitive costs.

Military officials in South Korea have claimed the US government added about US $470 million and BAE about $280 million in costs that were not part of the original agreement. South Korea’s DAPA is holding BAE responsible for those costs; BAE, in turn, argues that it had no say in those cost increases, instead putting the blame at the feet of the US government.

A BAE spokesman said the company “asked a US federal court to rule that it does not owe any monies in connection with the F-16 upgrade program,” adding, “we are unable to comment further.” The Pentagon declined to comment.

“Lockheed Martin has been contacted by the USG and we look forward to discussing the program with the USG and ROKAF officials at the appropriate time,” said Lockheed spokesman Mark Johnson. “Lockheed Martin values its relationships with its F-16 customers and stands ready to support their current and future needs.”

The DAPA spokesman also declined to comment on BAE’s lawsuit, but did note that further sanctions against the company are in play.

If DAPA concludes that the request for additional funds represents a breach of contract, it could confiscate the company’s bid bond and designate it an “undesired firm,” which would limit BAE’s ability to do defense deals in South Korea.

The Board of Audit and Inspection, the country’s watchdog agency, is scheduled to inspect the issues regarding the KF-16 contract with BAE in January. ■

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Partnership with Lockheed Martin

partnership with the Lockeed Martin is always possible to engage the country in the manufacture of fighter jets via the  resources and expertise of  this US company. As of today the Philippines has not even tried to make it feasible to do such as like that made by Korea.

In many facebook comments, and in the majority of our mindsets and thinking towards this means of going into manufacturing, there is always negativity and unproductive responses the possibility of having this goal. I hope the feats of Korea will makie us just envious to make us replicate the same now.

In the early 1990s, the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) began to recognize the growing capability gap between their existing fast jet trainers and modern fighters. This drove the ROKAF to use their operational fighters to satisfy some of their fast jet training needs.

The ROKAF then began to look at fast jet trainers that were available on the market that could be used to minimize this capability and skills gap. They found that most lacked the modern cockpit, digital flight controls, aero performance and avionics needed to bridge the growing gap. The solution – developing the T-50 Multirole Trainer.

Dedicated To Providing the World’s Best Jet Trainer

The T-50 was developed by a world-class team. The Korean government is providing funding and oversight on the program. The Republic of Korea Air Force is responsible for program management, defining requirements and conducting the flight test program – and is the first user.

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), prime contractor for the program, is responsible for aircraft design, integration and major component fabrication and will mate and deliver the T-50 from their factory in Sacheon.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, principal subcontractor and advisor to KAI for the development program, is responsible for the development of the wings, flight controls and avionics. Lockheed Martin is also partnered with KAI for long-term marketing the aircraft in the U.S. and internationally.

We also have a strong supplier team, which includes General Electric for the engine, another division of Lockheed Martin for the radar, Messier-Dowty, Honeywell and other leading aerospace companies.

This is a very strong team committed to the long-term success of the T-50 program.

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Pinay maid in Malaysia eyes charges vs ex-boss for abuse

This is one story  should make the government think of a better way to promote jobs for filipinos.  The story and the situation has been repetitive, though there are success stories in other areas, and few are unfortunate, still the demeaning job is degrading and an advocate of slavery.  We must stop the Domestic helping jobs abroad. The government is capable of solving this ill if seriously they will create alternatives that will replace these jobs for a better and dignifying one.  The proposal to eliminate DH jobs is up for the Congress to do so, it is their job and they know better to resolve the matter for the favor of better jobs and lives for all.

A Filipina maid plans to pursue charges against her former employer whom she accused of starving and beating her for nearly one-and-a-half years.

Nenita Batiancila Elcamel said she was made to work round the clock with little to no food and feared for her life, Malaysia's The Star Online reported Sunday.

Elcamel was rescued by police from her ex-employer’s condominium in Kelana Jaya on Nov. 13. Her head was bloodied and her body bore several bruises when she was rescued.

“I became so thin that I would break down in tears when I saw myself in the mirror,” said the Cebu native.

Last Friday, the former employer pleaded guilty at the Petaling Jaya magistrate’s court to hitting the maid. She was fined RM4,000 and jailed for a day.

But her woes do not appear to end there - a spokesman of Elcamel's foreign worker recruitment agency is planning to file a civil case against the former employer.

“We want to get justice for Nenita and make this a lesson to employers to treat their maids as humans,” the report quoted the agency's spokesperson as saying.

The report said Elcamel weighed about 132 lbs when she started work in Malaysia in 2013. But at the time of her rescue, she weighed a mere 88 lbs.

She said she was only given water, slices of bread or a pack of instant noodles for the whole day.

She also said her former employer would sometimes starve her for two days.

“Sometimes I felt like collapsing because I was so hungry but she would beat me with a hanger or a stick or pour water on me,” she said.

When the employer’s husband bought her food, she said the woman would throw it into the trash can.

“She deducted RM400 from my salary every month for my food and toiletries. She also charged me for using the electricity and water,” Elcamel said.

She said her employer  would wake her up at 5 a.m. and make her clean each room for an hour.

“She said that she was paying me a lot of money and I had to earn everything she was paying me for," she said.

Police brought Elcamel out of the condominium after neighbors called police and said the suspect had left her home alone with a gash on her head.

Elcamel said her former employer also attacked her with an aerosol spray can when she was not satisfied with her work. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News

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Philippine Shipbuilding

The Philippines overtook European countries and became the world’s fourth largest shipbuilding nation in 2010, following South Korea, China and Japan, in terms of newbuilding completion volume. This was attributable to the expanded construction volume of the local Philippine shipyards. The major shipyards in the Philippines are Japan’s Tsuneishi Heavy industries (Cebu) Inc. (THICI) in Balamban, Cebu operated by Tsuneishi Holding Corp. and South Korea’s Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC Philippines established by HHIC at Subic Bay.

The Philippines has been of good standing in the aspect of shipbuilding investments. We gained the rank as one of the world's biggest  shipbuilding nations made by giant names of shipbuilding companies in the world.  This condition can turn to be an advantage for the national government as well as to pertain to our naval ship development and  needs f or acquisitions in the navy.   The situation as an advantage that will save more for the country as thee companies can answer the call to respond to our naval shipbuilding capabilities. It is not impossible and as is it not difficult to turn these yards into a naval making companies for an orthodox statement.

In the five years since 2005, the emerging shipbuilding nations, like India, Vietnam, Philippines and Brazil, acquired a dominant position posing as potential threat as well as opportunity for the existing shipbuilding nations. Philippine shipyards are building more ships of larger tonnage capacities like bulk carriers, container ships and big passenger ferries. The construction at the Subic Bay Freeport of a $68 million Turkish-owned commercial ship by Hanjin Heavy Industries Corporation, a South Korean shipbuilding giant, shows that the Philippines can really build world-class ocean-going vessels.

The Philippines manifested a unique presence in the market as a production base of shipyards from developed countries. According to IHS Fairplay statistics (formerly Lloyd’s Register), 19 newbuildings of 710,000 gross registered tons (GRT) were completed in the Philippines from January to June 2010 alone. As for the major shipbuilding countries in Europe, Germany completed 490,000 GRT, while Italy and Romania completed 470,000 GRT and 320,000 GRT respectively. Newbuilding completions in Taiwan, Vietnam and Turkey also shrank, driving the Philippines to surpass these countries. South Korea, Japan and China will remain the three shipbuilding giants in the industry.

The shipbuilding industry refers to the sector involved in the construction, launching, and outfitting of watercrafts, while the ship repair industry deals with the overhaul, improvement, alteration, and reconditioning of water vessels. The Philippines now ranks No. 4 among the largest shipbuilding nations in the world. South Korea, China and Japan, are first, second and third largest shipbuilding nations worldwide. The arrival of foreign shipbuilders in the Philippines propelled the export growth of Philippine-made ships in the international market.

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Austal Philippines PTY Limited (Philippines Shipyard Operations)

This Ship, Condor 102,  is made in the Philippine soil by a foreign company. Investment in this industry is a pilot project for the philippines to kick start our Naval shipping industry and will assure the nation that such industry is advantageous for the country. From here, our intention of domestically  manufacture our naval ship requirements is already inside home. Though it is foreign, a  partnership  will eventually be an option for the government at much better cost.

We should view these new developments as favorable for our future.

Austal is a world leader in the design, construction and service of customised aluminium defence and commercial vessels, and is proud to list many of the world’s leading ferry operators and defence forces amongst its customers.

Austal has delivered more than 220 vessels for customers around the world from its shipyards in Western Australia, the USA (Mobile, Alabama) and now the Philippines. Austal’s product range includes passenger and vehicle-passenger ferries, patrol boats, theatre support vessels, combat ships, multi-role vessels and luxury private yachts. Austal is also an established provider of worldwide vessel maintenance and management services.

Austal have embarked on an exciting new venture and are recruiting a Company Nurse for the Philippines Shipyard Operations in Balamban, Cebu.


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Philippines To Buy 2 Maestrale Frigates From Italy; Urgent delivery of 4 Fighter jets

We have these new acquisitions for the AFP modernization program as a means to deter the bullying of China in the West Philippine Sea. We praise these actions of the president to counter the encroachment of china in our sovereignty. I suggest that as long as there is time before any war would erupt in the region, the country must hurriedly engage in our Defense Industry to sustain our  maintenance and increased inventory of our military hardwares and support for the economy,

Two days after President Benigno Aquino III vowed more support for the Philippine Air Force, a defense undersecretary disclosed the department is working for the immediate delivery of at least 4 of the total 12 FA-50 fighter jets it will be purchasing from South Korea.

Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said the Department of National Defense (DND) has begun negotiations with the Korean Aerospace Industry (KAI) while it is waiting for Malacañang's final approval of the sales agreement. It will be a government-to-government procurement that requires multi-year obligational authority from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

"Once we get confirmation of the sales agreement and once we get the multi-year obligational authority from DBM, we can start formal negotiations and we can schedule the delivery of at least 4 fighter jets," Manalo told reporters.

"We are negotiating for the immediate delivery of a certain number out of the 12 we are going to procure. We are hoping we can get at least four so our pilots can start their training," Manalo added.

The Philippines retired the last of its US-designed F-5 fighters in 2005 and lacks air defense.

'Minimum deterrence'

In May, Aquino announced a ₱75-billion military upgrade to defend the country's territory against "bullies." The 12 fighter jets will cost ₱18.9 billion, part of the 24 items in the shopping list of the AFP.

READ: ₱75-B boost for PH navy to resist 'bullies' and PH to buy 12 South Korean fighter jets

The AFP modernization will give the Philippines "minimum deterrence capability" so that other countries would "think twice about waging wars against us," Manalo said. Manila is embroiled in a diplomatic row with Beijing over islands in the disputed South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).

The AFP modernization program will serve various purposes, Manalo added.

"We cannot deny that we have an internal security problem. We cannot deny that there are terrorist threats. We need to assert our rights in the West Philippine Sea," Manalo said.

"We are not advocating war. But we cannot just ask soldiers to defend our rights using only their hands. We have to give them equipment," he said. "Buhay na natin ang nakatalaga dito," he added. (Our lives are at stake here.)

Frigates for the Navy

Two frigates will be procured for the Phippine Navy, too. It will cost ₱18 billion.

Manalo said the navy had already decided to acquire two new Maestrale-class frigates from Italy instead of buying used ones from the Italian navy.

The frigates would add to two refurbished Hamilton-class cutters formerly used by the US Coast Guard that the Philippines acquired from its US ally to upgrade its ageing navy fleet, which includes some vessels that first saw action in World War II.

Manalo is hoping the military's procurement of frigates will give the country a chance to join military exercises with other countries.

Under the 2013 General Appropriation Act, ₱5-billion was allocated to the "regular fund" of the AFP while ₱10.6 billion was for "unprogrammed funds." The latter is intended for projects that are awaiting approval.

Manalo said the DND's 2014 budget proposal also includes an allocation of ₱15 billion for the "unprogrammed fund."

Bases upgrade

Military bases will be upgraded. Manalo said hangars and other infrastructure in various military bases, such as the Naval Base Rafael Ramos in Cebu, will be improved to make them suitable for the new equipment.

Aside from fighter jets and frigates, the Philippines will procure the following:

* Rocket launcher, handheld radios, night fighting system for the Philippine Army

* Radar system and long range patrol aircraft for the Air Force

* Combat utility helicopter

* Flight simulator

* Lead in fighter trainers

* Amphibious assault vehicle

Manalo said the objective is to deliver all these within the term of President Aquino. Outside the ₱75-billion budget, the DND is also procuring 55,000 assault rifles.

According to Manalo, it is the "deliberate" intention of President Benigno Aquino to implement all 24 projects under the plan before he ends his term in 2016, with initial delivery of at least four of 12 FA-50 fighters next year or soon after.

The FA-50s as well as the radar systems and helicopters will be used mainly to defend interests in the West Philippine Sea, with installations of support facilities, including hangars, set up on Palawan island, the Philippines' nearest province to the disputed territories, Manalo said.

The acquisition of new military equipment will also increase the Philippines' chances to participate in joint training and exercises with other countries or, at least, expand the scope of its participation, boosting its capabilities, Manalo said.

The Philippines has recently disclosed a plan to grant the United States, and possibly, Japan, greater access to its military facilities.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said strengthening ties with strategic allies, the United States and Japan, are necessary because the Philippines is not yet capable of dealing with "Chinese aggression" on its own.

To end China "bullying"

"We are modernizing not because we want to go to war with China," he told a news conference.

He said the government had a sworn obligation to defend the "West Philippine Sea," using the government's preferred term for Philippine-claimed areas in the South China Sea.

"We are not saying that this is part of our preparations to assert our sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. What we are saying is that we cannot just give them up."

The frigates would add to two refurbished Hamilton-class cutters formerly used by the US Coast Guard that the Philippines acquired from its US ally to upgrade its aging navy fleet, which includes some vessels that first saw action in World War II.

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Deal to buy 12 fighters jets from South Korea reached

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.

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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