PH to spend P24B on military aircraft

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines said Friday, March 21, it will buy about P24 billion ($524.7-million) worth of aircraft from South Korea and Canada as part of a military upgrade amid territorial disputes with superpower neighbor China.

The contracts to be signed on March 28 will include the purchase of 12 FA-50 fighter jets from state-run Korea Aerospace Industries for P18.9 billion ($417.95 million), Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo told reporters.

State-owned Canadian Commercial Corp. will meanwhile be contracted to supply eight Bell 412 combat utility helicopters worth P4.8 billion, with the first 3 helicopters expected to be delivered next year, he added.

“This is significant because it will give our armed forces the minimum capability to demonstrate their ability to perform their responsibilities,” Manalo added.

The Philippines has embarked on a P75-billion effort to upgrade its armed forces, particularly units tasked with patrolling disputed territory in the South China Sea.

These units are dwarfed by those of neighboring China, which claims most of the area, including waters and islets much closer to the Philippines.

The Philippines has already acquired two refurbished frigates from the US coastguard as part of its military modernization program.

China said its coastguard on March 9 blocked two Philippine-flagged vessels approaching Second Thomas Shoal, which is guarded by a small group of Filipino marines but is also claimed by Beijing.

The shoal is part of the Spratlys, a chain of islets and reefs that sit near key shipping lanes, are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and are also believed to lie atop huge oil and gas reserves.

The Philippines also accused the Chinese coastguard of firing water cannon blasts on January 27 at two Filipino fishing vessels off Scarborough Shoal, a rocky outcrop lies just 220 kilometers off the main Philippine island of Luzon. – Rappler.com