The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is allocating PHP12.8 million
for the acquisition of personnel safety equipment (PSE) for the pilots of the
newly acquired South Korean-made FA-50PH "Fighting Eagle"
light-interim jet aircraft.
Submission and opening of bids is on June 3, 9 a.m. at the
PAF Procurement Center Conference Room, Villamor Air Base, Pasay City .
PSE refers to protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or
other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from injury
or infection.
The PAF's first two FA-50PH jet aircraft arrived in the Philippines in
Nov. 28, 2015. The rest remaining 10 aircraft, out of a 12-plane order from
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) worth PHP18.9 billion, will be delivered
between 2016 to 2017.
The FA-50PHs has a top speed of Mach 1.5 or one and a half
times the speed of sound and is capable of being fitted air-to-air missiles,
including the AIM-9 "Sidewinder" air-to-air and heat-seeking missiles
aside from light automatic cannons.
It will act as the country's interim fighter until the Philippines
gets enough experience of operating fast jet assets and money to fund the
acquisition of more capable fighter aircraft.
The FA-50PH design is largely derived from the F-16
"Fighting Falcon", and they have many similarities: use of a single
engine, speed, size, cost, and the range of weapons.
KAI's previous engineering experience in license-producing
the KF-16 was a starting point for the development of the FA-50PH.
The aircraft can carry two pilots in tandem seating. Its
altitude limit is 14,600 meters (48,000 feet), and airframe is designed to last
8,000 hours of service.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=888852
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