KAI, Philippines to enter final negotiations for 12 FA-50s

Korea Aerospace Industries and the Philippines will soon commence final negotiations for the purchase of 12 FA-50 fighter aircraft.
A source close to the deal tells Flightglobal that negotiations will commence in February. The source expects negotiations to last for six months. If discussions are successful, Manila could receive its first FA-50s in 2015.
The source's comments came after Philippine media reports quoted presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda as saying that Manila will move forward with negotiations for the 12 aircraft.
Lacierda reportedly said that the aircraft will be used "primarily for training, interdiction and disaster response".
"These planes have camera capabilities to monitor and also to take pictures of disaster areas," he says. "So it will be used in a number of ways."
A lack of fighters is a major capability gap for the Philippines, which retired its last Northrop F-5s in 2004. The shortfall is especially pressing, given the development of China's air force in recent years, and territorial disputes between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea.
The Philippine air force can use the FA-50 both as a trainer to regenerate its ability to operate fighters and as a combat aircraft, if necessary.

Spain Offers Descubierta Class Corvettes to Philippines

Spain offers Philippines "Descubierta" corvettes to assert against China

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Gonzalo de Benito, offered the Executive Secretary of the Presidency of the Republic of the Philippines, Paquito Ochoa, the technology of our customs supervision and corvettes like "Descubierta (=Discovery)", manufactured by Navantia, to reaffirm the sovereignty of its waters off China's claim. Philippines has requested assistance from the Spanish experts to argue its sovereignty over the Bajo de Masinloc (also known as Scarborough Shoal) and other disputed maritime areas.

So says a diplomatic courier rated "reserved" issued on October 26, 2012 by the Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Jorge Manuel Domecq, which has had access Diariocritico. In that post, Domecq gives his assessment of his interview in Manila Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Gonzalo de Benito, with the Executive Secretary of the Presidency of the Republic of the Philippines, Paquito Ochoa.

Philippine Coast Guard to Receive 10 Patrol Boats from Japan

The Philippine Coast Guard is set to hire some 300 new personnel to man 10 new patrol boats expected to arrive from Japan.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said they would prioritize applicants who would fit the qualifications of those who will man the new acquisitions.

“We need to recruit people with maritime-related courses such as marine engineers and marine navigation course. But we would also be needing technical experts such as those who have mechanical, welding and electrical skills or background,” said Balilo.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario discussed with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, during the latter’s visit early this week, a loan agreement for the Philippines’ procurement of 10 multi-role response vessels for the Coast Guard.

The new patrol vessels, which are expected to arrive in 2014, are expected to boost the country’s territorial defense in the West Philippine Sea.

PCG usually accepts applicants who finished even non-maritime-related courses.

“But we should now prepare for our new assets. We should prepare the right people or the crew and asset management team who would be in charge of our new vessels’ maintenance,” Balilo explained.

US Drone Found Floating In Philippine Waters

Mystery as American drone is found floating off the coast of the Philippines... 1,000 miles away from the nearest U.S. base

U.S. official insists vehicle did not carry weapons or surveillance cameras

A U.S. naval drone has been found floating off the coast of the Philippines - hundreds of miles away from the nearest American military base.
The fishermen who found the 10ft orange device originally reported that it could have been a bomb, prompting local officials to send munitions experts out into the sea.
But when it was determined to be safe, the unmanned aerial vehicle was taken into the care of the Filipino navy.

The BQM-74E drone, marked 'Navy', was found by a diver and fishermen on Sunday off the coast of Masbate Island, towards the centre of the island chain.

 

A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Manila said officials were trying to work out whether the one which was found near Masbate had in fact been used by the Navy.
She added that the drone was not armed and had not been used for surveillance.
While the Philippines used to host multiple U.S. military bases, the American naval facility in the country was shut down more than two decades ago.
The nearest U.S. Navy base to Masbate is the facility in the Japanese province of Okinawa, around 1,000 miles away.

PHL looking to 6 countries for new frigates

At least six countries are now competing for a contract to supply the Philippine armed forces with two frigates, which would significantly bolster the country's maritime defense capability.

Defense undersecretary for finance, munitions, installations and materiel Fernando Manalo said that five countries – South Korea, US, Israel, Croatia and Australia – had made their own offers towards the end of last year.

The Defense Department had initially considered acquiring Maestrale class frigates, which are currently used by the Italian Navy, for P11.7 billion.

Manalo said the five countries decided to participate in the acquisition process because they believed that the Philippine government is “really serious” in modernizing its armed forces.

“They can be treated as competitors,” said Manalo, adding that some of the frigates offered by the five countries are brand new.

Based on an initial study, Manalo said the Italian frigates can provide “the capability that we need in the West Philippine Sea, the minimum credible deterrence that we need the can be provided by the two Maestrales.”