This is my article about the FA-50 Eagle, and the AS-211 Warrior of the Philippine Air Force, along with some minor editorials, and corrections.
FA-50, credit to http://www.koreaaero.com
So let us first understand the purpose and roles of the AS-211, and the FA-50 in the Philippine Air Force,
"SIAI-Marchetti S-211 jet trainers were first delivered to the Philippine Air Force during the late 1980s and early 1990s. These aircraft served in a training role with a secondary attack function during the 1990s and into the 2000s. These aircraft were locally referred to as AS-211s and nicknamed "Warriors." In 1997 SIAI-Marchetti was acquired by Aermacchi, who continued to work the Philippine Air Force in relation to its AS-211 fleet (globalsecurity.org)."
"The squadron of 12 FA-50s from SouthKorea was acquired by the previous Aquino administration for P18 billion, one of two big-ticket items in the country's modest military modernization program." "The FA-50 is technically a fighter trainer but the PAF acquired it to perform multiple roles. The aircraft were acquired by the previous administration to boost the country's defenses in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) given China's aggressiveness in claiming maritime territories there." "The acquisition of the FA-50s marked the PAF's return to the supersonic age a decade after retiring the last of its US-made F5 fighter jets in 2005 (rappler.com)."
HISTORY
Let us look upon the history of both aircraft in the Philippine Air Force, and to clear confusions to the roles of the Aermacchi AS-211 Warrior which according to the manufacturer is a Basic Jet Trainer/Light Strike Aircraft while the KAI FA-50 Eagle according to Korean Aerospace Industry (KAI) is originally a Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) based on the Advance Jet Trainer platform the T-50 Eagle, the FA-50 was acquired for, and is intended to perform Lead In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) as well as Multi-Role Fighter (MRF) functions.
"Subsequently, in March 2014 the PAF signed contracts that included the purchase of the 12 FA-50PHs. In addition, a requirement to install advanced radar systems and accompanying medium-range air-to-air missiles on three or four aircraft was revealed. This will bestow beyond-visual-range capability and enable the PAF to undertake 'long-range interceptions (janes.com)."
Why did the Philippine Air Force converted their Aermacchi S-211 into a jet fighter trainer known as the AS-211 code named "Warrior", the answer is simple;
"With the final retirement of the F-5 fleet in October 2005, the AS-211s filled their role in the external Philippine air defense mission. Air Force officials stated that the arrangement was merely a stop gap measure (globalsecurity.org)."
The AS-211 Warriors were used in Interception, as well as in the Counter Insurgency (COIN) operations of the Philippine Government, the Philippine Air Force are forced to do so because of the lack of air assets of the Philippine Air Force during those times.
Operators of the T-50 Trainer variants, credit to http://www.koreaaero.com
The EMB-314 Super Tucano was developed from the Tucano trainer, operational in the air forces of 15 countries. www.airforce-technology.com
Finally! After several failed bidding our Close Air Support Aircraft (CASA) acquisition project, do finally have a sole (possible) contender, after the last two remaining contenders failed the bidding process for the said acquisition project, and after the Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano was declared as the lowest bidder that makes theEmbraer's EMB 314 Super Tucano as the winning bidder for our Close Air Support Aircraft (CASA) acquisition project. Congrats to the Philippine Air Force!
The EMB 314 Super Tucano would replace our aging fleets of Close Air Support Aircraft (CASA) like the OV10 and the SF-260 in due time, that is why the Department of National Defense (DND), and the government acquire six brand new Close Air Support Aircraft (CASA), I am glad that the Philippine Air Force is adopting into the 21st century by acquiring those brand new, modern, and sophisticated Close Air Support Aircraft (CASA), because if we compare the cabin of the EMB 314 Super Tucano to our current fleet of Close Air Support Aircraft (CASA), you could be able to spot the big difference.
Here is the specifications of the Embraer's EMB 314 Super Tucano Close Air Support Aircraft;
Cockpit
"The all-glass cockpit is fully night vision goggle compatible. Brazilian AF ALX aircraft are equipped with avionics systems from Elbit Systems of Haifa, Israel, including a head-up display (HUD), advanced mission computer, navigation system and two 6in x 8in colour liquid crystal multi-function displays." www.airforce-technology.com
"The head-up display with 24° field of view and the advanced weapon delivery system are integrated through a MIL-STD-1553B data bus. The pilot is provided with a hands-on throttle and stick (HOTAS) control. The pilot is protected with Kevlar armour and provided with a zero/zero ejection seat. The clamshell canopy, hinged at the front and rear and electrically activated, is fitted with a de-icing system and features a windshield capable of withstanding, at 300kt, the impact of a 4lb bird. A Northrop Grumman onboard oxygen generation system (OBOGS) is installed."www.airforce-technology.com
Weapons
"The aircraft is fitted with two central mission computers. The integrated weapon system includes software for weapon aiming, weapon management, mission planning and mission rehearsal. On board recording is used for post mission analysis.The aircraft has five hardpoints for carrying weapons, and is capable of carrying a maximum external load of 1,500kg. The aircraft is armed with two wing-mounted 12.7mm machine guns with a rate of fire of 1,100 rounds a minute and is capable of carrying general-purpose bombs and guided air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles." www.airforce-technology.com
"The SAFIRE thermal imaging system supplied by FLIR Systems is for targeting, navigation and target tracking. The system allows the aircraft to carry out night surveillance and attack missions. In July 2012, Embraer and Boeing signed a cooperation agreement to add new weapons integration capacity on the A-29 Super Tucano to satisfy the requirements of the US Air Force LAS programme". www.airforce-technology.com
Super Tucano in pole position to meet Philippine AiForce requirement
"The Philippine Air Force’s (PAF’s) longstanding requirement to procure a new close-air support (CAS) aircraft has finally progressed, with the Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano having been selected by the Department of National Defense (DND) as the programme’s single lowest bidder."www.janes.com
"Speaking to Jane’s on 16 June, Arsenio Andolong, the DND’s chief of public affairs, said the Super Tucano was recently selected ahead of another unidentified platform. “There were two bidders,” he said, “and after going through the process as mandated by law, Embraer was declared the ‘lowest calculated bidder’.” "He said the bid now proceeds to the next phase, which is post-qualification evaluation." www.janes.com
Watch a video about theEmbraer's EMB 314 Super Tucano Close Air Support Aircraft.
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JET AGE – One of two FA-50H fighter jets is shown parked at the tarmac of the Clark Freeport runway after delivery by South Korea’s Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI). (Jonas Reyes | Manila Bulletin File Photo)
Finally, the FA-50 acquisition is already a done deal! If we could remember President Duterte last year said that the FA-50 is a "pang ceremonial flyby only", but thankfully the President changed his views regarding our jet fighter(s)/trainer(s) which is the FA-50. According to the Department of National Defense and Armed Forces of the Philippines the FA-50 is a Lead In Fighter Trainer (LIFT)/Surface Attack Aircraft (SAA)/Trainer/Fighter, primarily we acquired the FA-50 as a LIFT but because it is the FA-50 the Light Combat Aircraft variant technically speaking it could function as a Light Combat Aircraft/Light Multi-Role Fighter therefore it will be used as one by the Philippine Air Force (PAF). The President also showed interest in acquiring additional 12 FA-50 LCA from South Korea, hopefully making our FA-50 fleet 24 or two squadrons after the term of President Duterte. Our real goal in acquiring the FA-50 is to prepare our pilots for our Multi-Role Fighter acquisition (Jas-39, F-16, F-18, and the like) it is suppose to be the TA-50 (a dedicated LIFT) but because we lack jet fighters during the term of Ex-President Aquino the Aquino administration decided to acquire the FA-50 instead as a dual bladed sword jet fighter/trainer acquisition through a government to government deal along with the government of South Korea and the manufacturer Korean Aerospace Industry (KAI). The FA-50 aircraft can carry a weapons load of up to 4.5 tons. The aircraft can be armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles, AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground tactical missiles (AGM), GBU-38/B Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), CBU-105 Sensor Fused Weapon (SFW), Mk-82 Low Drag General Purpose (LDGP) bombs and Cluster Bomb Units (CBUs). www.airforce-technology
The aircraft is also mounted with an internal, three-barrel 20mm Gatling gun and LAU-3/A 19-tube 2.75" rocket launcher for firing Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets (FFAR). The wide range of weapon systems aboard the FA-50 allows it to counter multiple threats in today's complex battlefield scenario.www.airforce-technology.com
"The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said the final batch of two FA-50PH training aircraft from South Korea will arrive at Clark Airbase, Pampanga on Wednesday.
Air Force spokesman Col. Antonio Francisco, said the final batch of FA-50PH Fighter/Surface Attack/Lead-in Fighters Training Aircraft with tail numbers 011 and 012 from South Korea will arrive before noon at the Haribon Hangar, Air Force City, Clark Air Base, Pampanga.
Francisco said the commander of the Air Logistics Command, Maj. Gen. Arnold A. Mancita, will be the guest of honor during the turnover ceremony.
Francisco said the blessing of the said aircraft will immediately follow.
Francisco said the final batch of the FA-50PH training aircraft will be brought into the country by pilots from the Korean Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI).
The first batch of supersonic jets arrived in the country on November 28, 2015.
Francisco said the arrival of the planes is expected to further strengthen or boost the PAF’s air capabilities, including the training of their personnel.
“The planes will also help boost the training capabilities of our pilots, it will also be used for training purposes so that our pilots will acquire more skills in flying fighter jets or supersonic jets,” he said.
This arrival of the planes is part of the PAF’s purchase of 12 fighter jets worth P18.9 billion from Korea Aerospace Industries.
The PAF said the FA-50 PH has a top speed of Mach 1.5 or one-and-a-half times the speed of sound and is capable to be fitted with air-to-air missiles.
The missiles include the AIM-9 “Sidewinder” air-to-air and heat-seeking missiles."
Foreign Affairs Sec. Alan Peter Cayetano meets with Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavror in Moscow. The STAR/Alexis Romero
MOSCOW – Russia has asked the Philippines to submit a shopping list of defense equipment after President Rodrigo Duterte urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to provide him with a loan to buy firearms.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano said the Russian government was willing to “do all efforts” to accommodate Duterte’s request.
“The response of the Russian Federation through President (Vladimir) Putin was very, very generous. So they said, well, we have the framework in place through our agreements to cooperate,” Cayetano said in a press briefing Wednesday night here.
“They have showed us what is available to us. I’m not at liberty now to discuss that…but they are awaiting our proposals,” he added.
While there was no decision yet on the loan being sought by the Philippines, Cayetano said Russia has provided help to countries that it considers as friends.
“It’s nothing new for the Russian Federation to lend a helping hand to countries that are their friends,” the Foreign Affairs chief said.
Duterte asked Putin for a soft loan during their bilateral meeting in Kremlin last Tuesday, hours before the Philippine leader left for Manila. Duterte said he needed money to buy firearms as the Philippines’ rifle deal with the US had been scrapped.
The US State Department halted the sale of some 26,000 rifles to the Philippine police last year after Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin had raised issues about the Duterte administration’s human rights record.
Cayetano said the loan may be used to buy not just firearms but to acquire equipment that would improve the chances of survival of government troops.
“These are really modern equipment that can be used to fight terrorist that will avoid injuring or causing deaths or damage or deaths to innocent bystanders or people in a community and also to prevent collateral damage,” Cayetano said.
“That also goes, for example, for our police and our military. You know, they’re suffering. They’re getting hurt. They don’t have the best hospital equipment. Sometimes, the Abu Sayyaf have better equipment than they do,”he added.
Duterte also invited Putin to visit the Philippines during their bilateral meeting.
Cayetano said Putin had expressed his gratitude to Duterte for the invitation. It was unclear whether the Russian leader accepted the invitation but Cayetano said such invitations do not usually get immediate response.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is expected to come to the Philippines in November to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit and related summits.
FIRST MEETING. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet for the first time during the APEC Summit in Peru in 2016. Malacañang file photo
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and Russia will sign a defense cooperation agreement and other bilateral deals when President Rodrigo Duterte goes on a 5-day official visit to the country next week.
Duterte will visit the cities of Moscow and St Petersburg during his visit from May 22 to 26, and will be accompanied by several Cabinet officials and a large business delegation, Foreign Assistant Secretary Maria Cleofe Natividad said in a Palace briefing Friday, May 19.
Natividad said deals expected to be signed during the visit include a defense cooperation agreement, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between Russian and Philippine security councils, a treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, and an extradition treaty.
The defense agreement, which will deal specifically with "military and technical cooperation," will set the stage for the Philippines' possible acquisition of defense assets from Russia.
"The agreement on military technical cooperation will pave the way for the Philippines to explore a possibility of military procurement from Russia," said Natividad.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had earlier confirmed he would sign a defense cooperation deal with Russia's defense ministry involving information sharing, training, and technical cooperation.
Another expected outcome of the visit is the establishment of a Philippine Office of Defense Attaché in Moscow and a similar Russian office in Manila.
Highlights
The other highlights of the visit include a bilateral meeting between Duterte and his "idol," Russian President Vladimir Putin, a bilateral meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, and a visit to a St Petersburg military shipyard.
Duterte will also have a gathering with the Filipino community in Russia and nearby states. The growing number of Filipinos expected to attend the event has prompted organizers to change the venue, Natividad said.
The Philippine leader will also give a speech at Russia's Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), a world-renowed diplomatic school.
He is expected to "articulate his admininstration's commitment to pursue an independent foreign policy," said Natividad.
Official vs state visit
Unlike Duterte's first visit to China, his Russia visit will only be an official visit, and not a state visit.
An official visit is considered a level lower than a state visit in terms of ceremony and importance.
However, Natividad said "this is as important as a state visit if you look at the quality of meetings the President will be having with Russian officials."
The decision on the type of visit was made by the Russian government as the inviting party. But Natividad is confident that Russia will still give Duterte a red carpet welcome.
She also emphasized the significance of the visit as it is upon the invitation of Putin himself.
The last Philippine president to visit Russia upon the invitation of its leaders was Fidel Ramos.
The formal invitation to Duterte reached the Philippine government as early as January but due to Duterte's busy schedule, which included hosting an Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, the visit had to be pushed back.
Another important factor that influenced the date of the visit was Russia's climate. Natividad admitted they waited for "good weather." Duterte previously spoke of an aversion to visiting countries during the cold season. – Rappler.com
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Wednesday received two more FA-50 fighter jets in Clark Air Base, Pampanga from a South Korean manufacturer.
At a news conference, PAF spokesperson Col. Antonio Francisco said the aircraft, with tail number 009 and 010, touched down in Clark around 11:20 a.m. and was welcomed by 1st Air Division commander Maj. Gen. Enrique Reyes.
Francisco said Air Logistics Command chief Maj. Gen. Arnold Mancita and the air base's council of elder commanders also welcomed the fighter jets.
The delivery of the jets brings the total number of FA-50s in the Armed Forces' inventory to 10 following last month's arrival of two FA-50s.
The jets are part of the 12 FA-50s purchased by the military from manufacturer Korean Aerospace Industries for P18.9 billion during the Aquino administration.
Francisco said the military hopes the two remaining fighters jets, with tail number 011 and 012, would be delivered in time for the PAF's founding anniversary in July.
"We are expecting that hopefully by next month, pero hindi pa natin alam yung delivery schedule, exact date, pero within the year... hinahabol natin before the anniversary ng Air Force," he said.
More jets
Since the first batch was delivered in November 2015, Francisco said the FA-50s have helped PAF train its pilots in case the government purchases more fighter jets.
"Our FA-50 is very functional right now for us, of course besides the territorial defense, it is a multi-role fighter, lead-in surface attack and trainer aircraft," Francisco said. "What we are really focusing right now is the training of our pilots. Kasi if there will be a possibility that we are going to acquire some more fighters in the future, then at least we already generated more pilots who have skills and time dito sa ating supersonic na fighter planes natin," he added.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier criticized the Aquino administration's procurement of the FA-50s saying it was a waste of money.
