Air Force to buy fighter jets by 2011

**roberto_minosa** · March 25th, 2010 08:09 AM

^Dude, their point is, it's time to put some force in the Philippine Air Force. After all, they've already allocated budget for everything. It's just a matter of utilizing what's already available.

**Altis6453** · March 25th, 2010 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by jick.cejoco

yes sir, the air support, again air support is much appreciated. but the main force with this type of "warfare" are the ground forces. but if we can not even support the gound forces their need for food, weapons, ammunition, vehicles and petroleum, the gound forces will just be spectators of the aircraft attacks

. do we even consider collateral damage? bomb our own country and do some damage for some small targets? stop watching cartoons!

Huh? I don't pretend to be a military tactician but most certainly ground troops are never spectators in anti-insurgency operations. And, contrary to your view, our army troops are well armed and equipped to take on the ASG. I have yet to hear of an encounter with the ASG wherein government forces were on the losing side due to lack of supplies (in fact, I think it'll be the other way around). What is being emphasized here is the role of aircraft in supporting ground operations.

**safeorigin** · March 25th, 2010 11:27 PM

Air interdiction assets are a necessity for any military operation. Without it, how will the troops get fire support whenever they're pinned? how will they get the advantage if the odds are even?

**veyron_27** · March 26th, 2010 02:45 AM

Originally Posted by safeorigin

Air interdiction assets are a necessity for any military operation. Without it, how will the troops get fire support whenever they're pinned? how will they get the advantage if the odds are even?

What equipment do you think that our beloved Air Force should need to able to support our ground forces?

**Ma^ride** · March 26th, 2010 06:41 AM

The government always say, internal conflict must be solved first before acquiring multirole, attack or air superiority fighter jets.. But what about protecting our boarders?? Indonesia has internal conflict situation but they have SU27 Flanker, Malaysias F16A/B, Thailand has internal conflict also but they have F16A/B.

It don't get the idea why they make it as the main reason why we cannot acquire these upgrades

**jick.cejoco** · March 26th, 2010 07:22 AM

we're there already. as mentioned, there is money for the purchase of a/c, the a/c are a necessity to the security of our airspace.
the best choice of aircraft for this purpose is the old reliable lockheed c-130. with so many variants, it is so flexible and can be outfitted for a specific purpose. it can be fitted as a gunship, troop drops, cargo drops, search and rescue and the list goes on..... there are so many parts available for this aircraft and there is not much need for retraining our present aircraft maintainers. as we all know, this rugged plane can take off and land in the most austere landing strips, high off the ground so it is not prone to FOD (foreign object damage) on the main engines, has its own apu for startups and power generation. there is minimal need for an external compressor for start ups. the advantages of having this airframe over the "toy models" that are priced high are numerous

**blue_gambit** · March 26th, 2010 08:00 AM

why not a fleet of ah-64 apache long bows??? Atleast sa angas ng hitsura pa lang panalo na! hehehe

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxCVfpeuCOE"]YouTube- TOP 10:Helicopters - AH-64D Apache (No.1)[/ame]

**jpdm** · March 26th, 2010 08:46 AM

Training aircraft from the Italy.

'Tom Cruise aircraft' readied for the PAF

By Ding Cervantes
(The Philippine Star)
Updated March 20, 2010 12:00 AM

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkxT99q...bCategoryId=67

Aerotech Industries Philippines Inc. chief operating officer Teresa Parian inspects one of the 18 ‘Tom Cruise aircraft’ that her firm is rushing at the Clark Freeport for the Philippine Air Force. Ding Cervantes

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga – The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will have four aircraft similar to that owned by Hollywood star Tom Cruise before President Arroyo’s term ends this June.
The Aerotech Industries Philippines Inc., authorized by the Italian aircraft manufacturer Alenia Aermaccchi, is rushing the completion of four of 18 SF-260 training aircraft at its assembly plant here.

Defense Undersecretary Lamberto Sillona told The STAR that President Arroyo has also ordered the rehabilitation of a C-130 cargo plane here, at a cost of P200 million to 400 million.

Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales inspected yesterday the still unfinished SF-260 aircraft at the facility of Aerotech, an accredited supplier of the Philippine Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police.
“It’s the kind of aircraft owned by Tom Cruise,” said Aerotech chief operating officer Teresa Parian.

All the 18 aircraft would cost some $13.1 million and would be turned over to the PAF in batches every one and a half months starting June, Alenia regional sales director Roberto Pierdominici said in a press briefing during Gonzales’ visit.

Pierdominici said the first batch of four SF-260 aircraft is being rushed for completion and turnover in June, after the PAF requested that they be available for its anniversary this July.

“The new training aircraft will address the three to four-year training backlogs of the PAF,” Sillona said, noting the lack not only of training aircraft but also of pilots, many of whom have been recruited by commercial airlines.

Parian said the $13.1-million cost of the 18 trainer aircraft was based on cost estimates way back in 2005 when the government contracted her firm for the project. She said no changes in the cost have been made.
“The cost includes the cost of training of technicians and pilots for the aircraft some of whom will be sent to Italy. The training will start in three months,” she said.

Parian said Aerotech earlier donated to the PAF two SF-260 aircraft after its six-year contract (2002 to 2008) leasing to the PAF its three SF-260 aircraft ended.

“So this June when the first four aircraft are finished, the PAF will have a total of six SF-260 trainer planes,” she said.