CLARK FREEPORT- AgustaWestland, the Anglo-Italian helicopter company owned by Italy’s Finmeccanica, is being considered by the government as supplier of eight combat helicopters as part of the Aquino administration’s effort to modernize the military.
“We are well on the way to acquiring attack helicopters and AgustaWestland is bidding to supply eight units,” Philippine Air Force spokesperson Lt. Col. Miguel Okol told Punto. US-based AgustaWestland’s website described the company as “Anglo-Italian” and “a leader in a number of the world’s most important helicopter markets offering the widest range of advanced rotorcraft available for both commercial and military applications.”
Italy, Britain, France, Russia and South Africa were among those eyed to supply the helicopters which are expected to upgrade the fleet of USmade MG-520 light attack helicopters that the air force has been using since the 1990s.
Okol also said the government is “on final stages” in the acquisition of South Korea’s TA-50 “Golden Eagle” jet aircraft. The Department of National Defense (DND) earlier announced it is planning to get 12 such aircraft.
The TA-50 design is largely derived from the F-16 “Fighting Falcon,” and they have many similarities such as the use of a single engine, speed, size, cost, and the range of weapons. He said more biddings are slated to be held for the acquisition not only of medium lift transport aircraft and light aircraft, but also of radars.
During the last 65th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force, Defense Sec. Voltaire Gazmin said more attack aircraft, lead-in fi ghter-trainers, attack helicopters and light and medium transport aircraft were all expected to be delivered within two years.
Okol noted that the purchases are funded from some P34 billion of the P75 billlion allocated by Pres. Aquino for armed forces modernization in the next years.
Asked by how much the air capability of the air force would be enhanced up to the end of the President’s term in 2016, Okol replied “by 40 percent.” But he added “it’s really difficult to give a precise estimate because our purchases are based on a continuing need analysis that goes as far as the year 2028,” he said.
Okol noted that such analysis has led to a recent decision to acquire anew more C-130 aircraft, noting that such aircraft has proven its usefulness.
