AFP sets new bid for new helicopters

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has decided to disregard an earlier bidding for suppliers of night-capable attack helicopters after President Arroyo ordered the release of P5 billion for the purchase of more aircraft, a ranking military official said.

“The bids and awards committee has decided to conduct another bidding to ensure that we get the same brand of helicopters,” AFP vice chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Romero said.

The P5 billion that was released by the President is part of the funding for the capability upgrade program of the AFP, intended to modernize the ill-equipped military to enable it to meet the 2010 deadline set by their commander-in-chief to crush the 39-year-old communist insurgency and the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf.

In an interview, Romero said they are set to conduct another bidding for the procurement of night-capable attack helicopters that would be worth P3.2 billion instead of P1.2 billion, which was earlier earmarked for its purchase.

Romero said the AFP also intends to buy utility aircraft such as the Vietnam War-vintage UH1H Huey that would be worth P3 billion.

Romero, who is also chair of the AFP modernization board, explained that getting the same brand of helicopters would be more cost efficient in terms of spare parts and training for pilots. He further said it would not be advisable to get aircraft made by different manufacturers even if they have the same specifications.

“We were advised that it is not good to get different brands of helicopters even if it is a carbon copy of the other,” he said.

Romero, however, did not specify how many attack and utility helicopters could be bought by the military with that amount, but he said out of the P5 billion, P3 billion would be used to purchase cargo helicopters, while the rest would be used for attack helicopters.

Romero added that those who have earlier joined the bidding and placed a higher price for the military hardware would make their costs lower for them to win the contract.

He said that the utility helicopters that would be purchased by the AFP should be able to lift at least a squad of soldiers, for troop insertion during combat, as well as to airlift casualties and bring supplies for frontline forces.

In a separate interview, Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Horacio Tolentino said McDonnel Douglas, a foreign supplier, won the earlier bidding for six units of night capable attack helicopters.

He said he is not certain if the setting aside of the earlier bidding would pose legal problems if the winner pursues the contract, which, according to him, is in its post-qualification stage.

But Tolentino agreed that it would be wise to buy the same kind of aircraft with the money as it would be more cost efficient for the AFP. – James Mananghaya