From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 12): DND eyes buying 12 new jet-trainer
fighters, missile surface vessels for the AFP modernization program
Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin said on Monday the government is eyeing to
buy 12 new jet-trainer fighters and warships with missile capability as soon as
possible to fast-track the much-delayed modernization program of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Gazmin made the disclosure during a media interview following the 73rd
anniversary celebration of the Department of National Defense (DND) at the
Officers' Club House in Camp Aguinaldo in suburban Quezon City Monday afternoon.
He said that at this point in time, a South Korean company seems to be at the
upper hand to supply one squadron or 12 jet-trainer fighter planes to the
Philippine Air Force (PAF).
However, Gazmin was quick to say that other countries may still be in the
running to make proposals to supply the badly needed aircraft for the PAF.
The PAF has no jet fighter interceptors since 2005 when the last F-5 jet
fighters were retired because they were already obsolete.
At the same time, Gazmin also revealed that the DND is also planning to
acquire modern warships with missile-capability for the Philippine Navy (PN).
The Navy badly needs new and modern warships to patrol the country's
36,000-kilometer long coastline which is twice as long as that of the United
States.
Unfortunately, the Navy's ships are mostly World War II vintage.
PN acquired recently a cutter from the United States and another one will
arrive in a month or two but these numbers are short of an ideal naval
fleet....
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=470669
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.