Monday, November 12, 2012

DND eyes buying 12 new jet-trainer fighters, missile surface vessels for the AFP modernization program

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.