PH to procure 12 more light fighters from South Korea

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MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines plans to acquire 12 additional light fighters from South Korea for P40 billion, a big boost to the country’s air power amid continuing tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Manila and Seoul are ironing out the terms of reference for the government-to-government deal, according to the Procurement Monitoring Report released early this month by the Department of National Defense (DND).

South Korea’s sole aircraft maker, Korea Aerospace Industries, built the 12 FA-50 light combat aircraft currently in use by the Philippine Air Force (PAF), which were acquired for P18.9 billion during the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III.

READ: PH fighter jet patrols West Philippine Sea, tests flare maneuvers

Aside from conducting patrol missions across the country, the FA-50 light fighters were dubbed as “game changers” during the Marawi siege, a five-month battle in 2017 between government troops and Islamic State-linked militants.

Defense systems upgrades

The DND said the Philippine Army would purchase an aeromedical Bell 412 EPX helicopter for emergency medical missions worth P1 billion.

It also confirmed an earlier announcement by a PAF official that a contract had been signed in December for six Embraer Super Tucano light attack aircraft for the PAF’s 15th Strike Wing for P6.5 billion.

Other ongoing modernization projects mentioned in the report included the upgrade of existing FA-50s, several cyber systems upgrades for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, upgrades for the ground-based air defense system for the PAF, missiles, and systems upgrades for the upcoming Malvar-class corvettes, and missiles for the PAF.

Sources, meanwhile, said South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) is expected to deliver the first of two corvettes to the Philippine Navy in late March. The ship launch for the second corvette is also expected around that time. They will be named BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06) and BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07).

The 3,200-ton corvettes with antiship, antisubmarine, and anti-aircraft capabilities are part of a P28-billion deal the DND signed with HHI in 2021.

Pagasa Island transformation

Meanwhile, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, said on Sunday that he expects some P3.03 billion to be spent this year for infrastructure at the Kalayaan Island Group.

This is on top of the P2.3 billion allocated last year for the Pagasa airport and the Lawak shelter port.

Pimentel filed in November 2022 House Bill No. 6228, which seeks to transform Pagasa Island into a recreational fishing tourism destination, develop it into a thriving community, provide Kalayaan town “a new recurring revenue stream” and afford small fisherfolk with supplemental sources of income. The bill is still pending at the committee level.

—WITH A REPORT FROM JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE