By: Rahel U
As the major defense exhibit was held in the Philippines last Tuesday, Global defense companies displayed their latest weaponry to win the contract with the nation. Manila intends to spend $1.8 billion worth of funds for acquiring new war equipments by 2017. Weapon manufacturers are keen to win the contracts for the incoming deal.
As the major defense exhibit was held in the Philippines last Tuesday, Global defense companies displayed their latest weaponry to win the contract with the nation. Manila intends to spend $1.8 billion worth of funds for acquiring new war equipments by 2017. Weapon manufacturers are keen to win the contracts for the incoming deal.
Amongst the
defense heavyweights officials who attended the exhibit were Lockheed Martin and Textron, both of the U.S., as
well as Thales of France, Saab of Sweden, and the defense arm of
European aerospace giant Airbus.
At the lively
exhibition, military brass joins with the company officials, as flamboyant
models of fighter jets competed with gun-toting young women for the visitors’
attention.
Beechcraft is contending
for a Philippine order for six close-air-support aircraft. The aircraft whose
value is around $114 million, was designed to bomb targets that threaten ground
troops. But Mr. Webster said the winner of the first contract, possibly stands
to gain a succeeding order of 18 more
planes.
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| The Philippine capital hosted the country’s first major defense show in 15 years this week. (Photo: Trefor Moss/The Wall Street Journal) |
Furthermore, the
world’s biggest defense company by sales Lockheed Martin, is interested in a
contract for maritime patrol aircraft. It says it can send at half the total price
of new planes by appropriate the Philippine Air Force’s existing C-130 Hercules
transportations with surveillance systems. Lockheed Martin views the
Philippines as a long-term bet so he believes that this is the perfect timing
to get the sales, making it sure to get the upcoming sales over the next 15
years. He also noted that Korea and Israel are just waiting to get the sales.
President Benigno Aquino III, who opened the Asian Defense, Security and
Crisis Management Exhibition, has approved around $920 million budget in
defense acquisition.
The Philippines has already used the second-hand
equipment, such as the two ex-Coast Guard cutters which were recently given by
the U.S., and reused them as naval warship.
Source: indopacificreview
Photo: credit to the owner
