PH still buying fighter jets

From the Manila Bulletin (Jul 23): PH still buying fighter jets



Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Tuesday said the plan to purchase 12 F/A 50 light fighter aircraft from South Korea will proceed.

Gazmin made the assurance one day after President Benigno S. Aquino III cited in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) the massive cost it would entail for the government to build minimum credible defense posture through acquisition of fighter jets and modern weapons for the military.

In an interview at Camp Gen. Emilio E. Aguinaldo, Gazmin told reporters the sales agreement for the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) jet aircraft is now at the Office of the President.

"Tuloy-tuloy ang procurement, yung papeles nasa kanila na, nasa Office of the President. Hinahantay lang natin ang sales agreement, once that is approved tuloy-tuloy na yung negotiations," said the defense chief.

The government has allocated an P18 billion budget for the acquisition of the 12 F/A-50 multi-role fighter aircraft.

During the SONA, the president noted "there are those who insist on upgrading our Armed Forces."

"I agree with this, but some of them act as if they want us to invest every centavo of our country into fighter jets, tanks, and other equipment for warfare. They may not know that one fighter jet costs P1.58 billion pesos—equivalent to 6,580 houses for our soldiers and our police force, or nearly 2,000 classrooms for our children," he added.

"Building a minimum credible defense posture is not something we can take lightly... We will balance our needs. We are committed to meeting the needs of our society, while remaining a good and upstanding member of the community of nations," the president further stated.

"Right now, tinitingnan niya (President) yung lahat nung pangangailangan natin, marami lahat at kailangan natin all at the same time kaya kailangan balansehin niya kung ano ang bibilhin, kung ano ang uunahin," explained the defense chief.

Gazmin added that included in the list are the fighter jets but instead of 24 or one squadron, the government will only acquire 12 of such aircraft.

He explained this is because the Defense department can not afford to spend all the P75 billion AFP modernization budget to buy fighter aircraft.

Gazmin further said the jet fighters are needed to protect the country's airspace.
"It's important because we need to defend our country against any threats. It's not directed to any country for that matter," he stated.

The Government Procurement Policy Board earlier gave the Defense department the "green-light" to start pre-negotiations with the South Korean government for 12 F/A 50 aircraft last January.

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