By: Rahel Udasan
At the opening of Asian
Defense, Security and Crisis Management (ADAS) show, which was held in Manila
last July 17-18, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) defined the benefits
of its current defense acquisitions for
the AFP modernization.
President Aquino on Thursday said there is no slowing
down in modernizing as the current administration has released PHP40 billion
fund to modernize the AFP forces. But he explained that the efforts are not
meant for the arm force race nor stir any tension with neighboring nations
but to secure the Philippine
territories.
Amongst the big-ticket items are 12 Korea Aerospace Industries
(KAI) FA-50 fighters and two powerful 7,200-tonne strategic Sealift vessels which
are believed to be very important in transporting military
forces and equipment. The construction of the first vessel will start in
February or March 2015 and expected to
be delivered in the country by August
2016.
The Department of National Defense (DND) will soon be in the
process of signing a contract for the
three IAI Elta EL/M-2288 air defense radars. One of these radars will be used in
Palawan province to monitor the South China Sea border.
Source: janes.com
Photo: credit to the owner
