Philippines Expected 17 Helicopters And 2 FA-50 To Be Delivered By Korea Next Year

By: Rahel Udasan

President Benigno III said Tuesday on the 67th anniversary of the PAF in Clark Field, the first of the country's South Korean fighter jets coming to the country is in pending status as it  will not be delivered until 2015 year.

However,  the  Philippine Air Force is deliberately expanding its defense capability over the past few years.  This defense expansion takes place in the middle of a continuous dispute with China over the territorial claim on the West Philippine Sea.

He further said the military has already acquired two additional C-130 planes, 18 basic trainer aircraft, 20 upgraded MD-520 MG helicopters, eight Sokol combat utility choppers, and four of the 21 newly purchased Huey helicopters.

The President expected the rest 17 Huey helicopters to be delivered by the end of this  year and two of the 12 FA-50 multi purpose fighters to arrive from South Korean manufacturer next year. Aquino said that he believes with the acquirement of the FA-50s, Philippines can protect its territory in a more effective way.

In his speech at Clark, Manila, during the anniversary of the Philippine air force he said "It's saddening to think about the state of the air force that we inherited: Once regarded as among Asia's strongest, the air force seemed to have failed to take off from decades of anomalies, abuse and neglect."

So far, the Philippines invested 18.9 billion pesos ($420 million) funds to purchase 12 FA-50s lead-in fighter trainers which is the biggest deal made for the military modernization program. The contract between the Philippine military  and Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. was signed last March, 2014.

Aquino said the government intends to acquire six close-air support aircraft, eight combat utility helicopters, two long-range patrol aircraft, radar systems, and other necessary upgrades for the Air Force. 

Aquino’s administration has been in the process of seeking such military upgrade from the time when he assumed office in 2010. He said this is a big difference from the previous administration, who apparently did not  support the needs of the Philippine Air Force. 

Source: GMA News

Photo: Credit to the owner