Philippines to Open Letter of Credit for F/A-50 Within 7 Days

The letter of credit for the purchase of the South Korean F/A-50 will be opened within seven day.
Upon opening of the LOC, two F/A-50 jet aircraft are expected to be delivered within 18 months.
The next two units will be delivered 12 months later and the remaining eight jet planes in staggered basis within eight months.
The F/A-50 will act as the country's interim fighter aircraft until the Philippines get enough experience of operating fast jet assets and money to fund the acquisition of more capable fighter planes.
defense-studies

First 2 Philippines Air Force F/A-50s to be Delivered in September 2015

Philippines Defense Secretary on Thursday said that the first two South Korean made F/A-50 "Fighting Eagle" jet aircraft will be delivered by September 2015.
Prior this, Air Force pilots with high jet time and maintenance crews, will be first sent to South Korea for briefing and training.
Delivery of the remaining F/A-50s is expected to be completed within two years after the delivery of the first two.
After the F/A-50s, it's hoped to acquire modern fighter aircraft.
The Philippines and South Korea signed the contract for the 12 F/A-50 units last March 28.
The F/A-50 will act as the country's interim fighter until the Philippines get enough experience of operating fast jet assets and money to fund the acquisition of more capable fighter aircraft.
defense-studies

Philippines to sign Letter of Credit for F/A-50 Signed Within This Month

The letter of credit(LOC) for the South Korean F/A-50 "Fighting Eagle" for the Philippines Air Force.
The signing will take place by this coming week or the next.
Contract for the Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) jet aircraft, of which the Philippines has ordered 12 units, was signed last March 28.
Upon signing of the LOC, two F/A-50 jet aircraft are expected to be delivered 18 months after.
While the next two will be delivered 12 months later and the remaining eight jet planes to be delivered in staggered basis within eight months.
The F/A-50 will act as the country's interim fighter until the Philippines get enough experience of operating fast jet assets and money to fund the acquisition of more capable fighter aircraft.
The F/A-50 design is largely derived from the F-16 "Fighting Falcon", and they have many similarities.
defense-studies

Philippines Air Force Reactivates Three More S-211 to train F/A-50 Pilots

The decision to reactivate three more SIAI-Marchetti S-211 jet trainers is aimed at increasing the number of aerial assets needed to screen and train prospective F/A-50 pilots.
The additional S-211s will provide incoming pilots of the South Korean-built jet plane with the flight time and training needed for fast aircraft operations.
The F/A-50 is expected to be in service within the Philippines Air Force by the third quarter of 2015.
Four PAF pilots will be deployed to South Korea before the end of the year to undergo familiarization training in the KAI F/A-50 "Golden Eagle".
These PAF officials relatively have high jet time compared to other pilots, flying SIAI-Marchetti S-211 jet trainers which doubles as attack aircraft of the PAF.
defense-studies

China Asked Korea Not to Sell Jets to Philippines

China asked Korea not to sell FA-50 fighter jets to the Philippines. Beijing made the request ahead of a summit in Seoul between President Park Geun-hye and Philippines President on Oct. 17.
Korea declined, saying it cannot accept "interference" in arms exports, an issue of its national interest.
The Philippines is engaged in a territorial dispute with China over the Spratly Islands, and that appears to be why Beijing protested several times through the Chinese Embassy and other channels.
The Spratly Islands consist of around 30,000 tiny islands and reefs occupied by China, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines.
China has dispatched Navy ships to the South China Sea to bolster its presence there. The Philippines increased troop presence on the islands late last year and established a separate military command to handle their defense. Manila also recently decided to move some of its naval and air force bases near the South China Sea.
There is speculation that the Philippines is acquiring the FA-50 jets to defend the Spratly Islands.
The Philippines is also in talks with Korea to spend US$650 million to purchase Korean-made frigates.
China is also engaged in territorial disputes in the South China Sea with Indonesia and Vietnam, which have either bought or are about to buy Korean weapons.
Indonesia signed deals in 2011 to buy 16 T-50 trainers as well as three 1,200-ton submarines.
Vietnam held its first military talks with Korea last year to expand cooperation in the field.
defense-studies

Philippines to get first two F/A-50 by end of 2014

Philippines Air Force may be able to receive two lead in fighter trainer jets as early as next year.
Air Force chief said the first two air assets to be acquired from South Korea would be used to train their pilots.
The target is to have at least two jets delivered initially by the end of fourth quarter of 2014 and then the rest would be delivered in the next six months.
The government plans to acquire 12 FA-50.
philstar

Philippines on track to operate again supersonic jet aircraft: F/A-50 "Golden Eagle"

The Philippines is now on track to operate again supersonic jet aircraft as the "term of reference" (TOR) for the F/A-50 "Golden Eagle" is now in the works.
"Procurement for the F/A-50 will be on a government-to-government basis," the Department of National Defense (DND) observer stressed.
He also said the go-ahead signal for the TOR only came last week.
The order came from the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB), an attached agency of the Department of Budget and Management.

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