PAF eyes multi-role fighters on top of new FA-50s

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Air Force (PAF) wants more multi-role fighter aircraft on top of the 12 FA-50 light combat aircraft (LCA) being readied for delivery in batches from South Korea.

“Of course, the plans or the proposal to acquire multi-role jet fighters is still pending and still part of our plans because we still need more,” PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said at briefing yesterday.

“In spite of these 12 additional FA-50s, we would still be needing more fighter aircraft because we have a very wide archipelagic area to protect and monitor,” Castillo said.

The Department of National Defense earlier announced the approval of the acquisition of 12 fighter jets from South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. for $700 million, with delivery to be made in phases over the next five years or until 2030.

Castillo noted that with the acquisition of more air assets, the PAF would also be training more pilots under the training programs or packages included in the acquisition contracts.

“Right now, the efforts of the Air Force, whenever we have pending acquisitions, we already prepare for them ahead of time. So the procurement of pilots, new pilots are ongoing. The upgrades of our current pilots are also ongoing. We are going to make sure that we have enough pilots to fly those new FA-50s once they come,” she said.

Castillo said the soon-to-be-delivered aircraft have “better capabilities than what we currently have in our inventory,” adding they have “longer range, better firepower, among others.”

Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner earlier said the military needs more multi-role fighters to enhance the country’s defense capabilities.

In April this year, the United States government approved the possible sale of F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines valued at $5.58 billion, but the DND has yet to confirm if the acquisition would push through.

Lockheed Martin, one of America’s leading defense and aerospace manufacturers and maker of the F-16 fighter aircraft, has expressed readiness to provide such air assets to the Philippines.

Aside from providing the country with state-of-the-art fighter jets, Lockheed Martin said it was also aiming to help it boost its self-reliant defense posture.