News Story: Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia plan meet on international terrorism

By Alexis Romero

MANILA, Philippines — The leaders of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia may meet to discuss international terrorism, President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday, as Filipino troops plan their final assault against Islamic State-styled militants in Marawi City.

Duterte said he and Indonesian President Joko Widodo are still awaiting word from Malaysia President Najib Razak on the meeting.

“Widodo and I have yet to hear from Najib. He wants us, the three of us to meet somewhere to talk about this new phenomenon of international terrorism,” the president said during the oath-taking of newly-promoted police officials in Malacañang.

“It seems that we are back into the stages of the old world. Like pirates, of which they are really are… They kill and they just want to destroy,” he added.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: FA-50 jets back in harness in Marawi

Philippine Air Force (PAF) FA-50 fighter aircraft

By Michael Punongbayan

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Air Force’s FA-50 fighter jets, which had been grounded following a “friendly fire” incident that killed two soldiers on the ground in Marawi, are now back in action conducting new air strikes against members of the Maute terror group in the war-torn city.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said the planes are back in harness again by the military.

Last month, the military stopped FA-50 flights after two soldiers were killed in an air strike accident that also wounded some government troops.

As part of standard operating procedure, the fighter jets were grounded to give way to the investigation to determine the cause of the friendly fire incident.

“Based on initial investigation, no fault was found on the part of the aircraft and pilots,” Arevalo said.

He noted that there would be adjustments in some of the techniques, tactics and procedures concerning air strikes to prevent similar accidents.

Arevalo, however, stressed that he cannot reveal what changes or adjustments will be made but gave assurance that the FA-50s are safe.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: Prosecution widens probe into KAI over suspected accounting fraud

KUH-1 Surion Helicopter

SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors said Wednesday they have launched an investigation into suspicions of accounting fraud at South Korea's sole aircraft manufacturer, Korea Aerospace Industries Co. (KAI), with its top executives already under probe for cost manipulation and slush funds.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office began its probe into KAI last month over allegations that some of its top officials manipulated expenses for development projects, including the making of a utility helicopter known as the Surion, to gain illicit profits.

T-50/FA-50 Golden Eagle Trainer/Fighter Aircraft

Now the prosecutors suspect that KAI also overstated the value of proceeds from the sale of a light attack aircraft, FA-50, to Iraq, a deal worth some 3 trillion won (US$2.67 billion), according to prosecutors.

The defense company clinched a deal to supply 24 of the aircraft to the Middle East nation in 2013. The prosecution believes that KAI cooked the books as if it had collected the payment from the Iraqi buyers, when the money was in fact not received due to the geographical tension in the Gulf at that time.

Read the full story at YonhapNews

News Story: S. Korea to deepen defense industry ties with Indonesia

SEOUL, Aug. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Tuesday it's seeking closer ties with Indonesia on defense goods as part of efforts to expand its overall arms trade.

Defense Minister Song Young-moo plans to discuss the issue when he meets his Indonesian counterpart Ryamizard Ryacudu in Seoul later in the day, according to his office.

He's on a trip to South Korea to attend a delivery ceremony for a submarine built by the local defense contractor Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co.

Indonesia has ordered three diesel-electric attack submarines from South Korea.

It has signed a separate deal to buy South Korea's T-50 supersonic trainer jets in addition to a bilateral partnership on Seoul's KF-X program to develop its own advanced fighters.

Read the full story at YonhapNews

News Story: PAF to get 6 more aircraft

Afghan A-29 Super Tucano Ground-Attack Aircraft

MANILA, Philippines - Six Brazilian-made close-air support aircraft with night flying capabilities will be the latest additions to the Philippine Air Force (PAF)’s air muscle.

The acquisition of the six new A-29 Super Tucano aircraft is part of the PAF’s ongoing modernization, which also involves the purchase of more FA50 lead-in trainer fighter jets from South Korea.

After several delays, post qualification inspections of the aircraft are now being done in Brazil. Embraer Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. bagged the P4.9-billion defense contract. The delivery of the aircraft is still being finalized.

The multibillion-peso procurement is sourced from the revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Trust Act Fund.

A team has been dispatched to inspect the manufacturer’s facilities and the aircraft.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: S. Korea aims to expand arms exports

T-50/FA-50 Golden Eagle

By Lee Chi-dong

SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) -- This year may prove to be a key turning point for South Korea's defense industry, as the country hopes to add arms to the list of its major export items.

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), a local defense giant, is bidding for the U.S. Air Force's program, called T-X, to replace its aging fleet of 350 T-38 trainer jets, a deal reportedly worth US$16 billion.

KAI is seeking to supply an upgraded version of the T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic trainer jet developed in partnership with Lockheed Martin. The two firms formed a consortium for the offer of T-50A amid a fierce battle with the Boeing-Saab team.

The deal is expected to be awarded late this year, representing one of the biggest defense contracts in a decade.

"We are cautiously optimistic," a KAI official said, requesting anonymity. "In particular, our entrant has a competitive edge in price. Its performance has been already proven with more than 200 aircraft in operation."

The two-seat T-50 is currently used for training pilots in South Korea. It has been exported to Indonesia, Iraq, Thailand and the Philippines.

Global experts acknowledged the excellence of the plane itself.

Read the full story at YonhapNews

News Story: Thai cabinet OKs air force's planned procurement of aircraft from South Korea

A KAI T-50 Golden Eagle Trainer Aircraft

BANGKOK, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The Thai cabinet on Tuesday acknowledged the air force's planned procurement of eight trainer aircraft from South Korea, according to air force spokesman AVM Pongsak Semachai.

During a weekly cabinet meeting at Government House chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the planned purchase of the second batch of T-50TH jet trainers was acknowledged by the cabinet.

Those South Korean trainer aircraft are to be procured at a combined cost of 8.8 billion baht (about 258 million U.S. dollars), which is to be paid on three-year instalment basis, AVM Pongsak said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: ‘No failure of intelligence in Marawi’

MANILA, Philippines - The crisis in Marawi City was not caused by a failure of intelligence but by connivance between local warlords and terrorists who stockpiled firearms in the city and the “soft” policy towards rebels, President Duterte said yesterday.

Duterte said the government was aware that firearms were being stockpiled in Mindanao but took it for granted because of the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). 

“We have adopted a very soft policy towards the rebels and this came about because they were bringing firearms. Since we are thinking of getting peace with the MNLF and MILF. The game there involves firearms. We took it for granted. We just allowed it to happen because we never knew until that time who was really the enemy,” Duterte told the troops in Butuan City. 

“When they see firearms and they were told that it’s for MILF or MNLF, the standing order was maybe we can talk to our brothers so there will be no trouble (but) it turned out that the Maute were bringing the firearms surreptitiously and we did not know how much ammunition and firearms were stockpiled, and besides it was not a failure of intelligence,” he added. 

Appearing in public for the first time in nearly a week, Duterte said the terrorists seem to have an “endless supply” of firearms and ammunition because of the assistance of corrupt local warlords.

“But all the while, the Maute (was conniving with) politicians there, the warlords, and were stockpiling. That’s why they do not run out of M203 bullets,” he said, noting many soldiers were hit by that type of bullet. 

Duterte confirmed extremists from Indonesia, Syria, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Kuwait joined the Maute terrorists in the clashes with government troops. 

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: 20 Abu Sayyaf militants killed - Philippine military

MANILA, May 12 (Xinhua) -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Friday that troops killed at least 20 Abu Sayyaf militants on Thursday in Basilan, a southern island in the Philippines.

The military said in a statement that the operations featured the Philippine Air Force's FA-50 fighter jets that dropped bombs on the lair of Abu Sayyaf leader Furuji Indama in Basilan before dawn on Thursday.

"Heavy bloodstains were found in the vicinity, with intelligence reports rounding no less than 20 ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) fatalities from the combined airstrikes and indirect fires," said the military statement.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Duterte orders bombing runs vs Abus in Mindanao

A Philippines Air Force FA-50PH Fighter Aircraft (File Photo)

By Alexis Romero

MANILA, Philippines - President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the military to conduct “bombing runs” against terrorists in Mindanao to prevent them from entering the Visayas and to contain the influence of extremist group Islamic State (IS).

“We have a problem with terrorism. What looms very big ahead is the IS. They are coming in,” the president told reporters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 on Wednesday.

“Fighting is ongoing in Mindanao. As a matter of fact, we’ve been using the FA-50 jets on bombing runs,” he added.

Duterte said he expects a long-drawn war against terrorism, which he said is made more serious by the drug menace.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: Philippines to get South Korea anti-sub warship

Pohang-class ASW Corvettes (Image: Wiki Commons)

By Jaime Laude

MANILA, Philippines - South Korea will transfer a used Pohang-class anti-submarine warship to the Philippines this year in return for a token $100, the defense department said yesterday, boosting its capability to patrol vast maritime borders.

Outside long-time treaty ally the United States, South Korea has been the largest source of Philippine military hardware, from fighters and patrol ships to armored vehicles and army trucks.

Manila received two FA-50 light fighters from Seoul Wednesday and two more will be delivered next month to complete the 12-aircraft, P18-billion deal.

The Philippines has expressed interest in acquiring six more similar planes.

“We are hoping to receive the vessel within the year,” defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong said of the warship.

“The transfer will be in the form of a donation. We will pay a token $100, but the corvette will still undergo refurbishment,” Andolong said.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: Four more brand-new FA-50Ph fighter jets arriving to PH

PAF FA-50PH (002) Fight Aircraft

Philippine Air Force (PAF) is expecting for four more FA-50PH Fighter/Surface Attack/Lead-in Fighter Trainer (F/SA/LIFT) from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to arrive this month until May.

The fifth and sixth batch of the delivery of planes with tail numbers 009 to 012, are four months earlier than the original date which was set in September, said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla.

Padilla hinted interest to procure six more similar aircraft if they continue excellent performance and if the AFP have enough funds.

Read the full story at Tankler

News Story: PH Air Force has now 8 supersonic jets, eyeing procurement of 36 more FA-50s

Philippine Air Force FA-50PH (File Photo)

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has now eight jets in its inventory while the delivery of the rest of the jets will be completed this year.

The fourth batch of FA-50PH jets with tail number 007 and 008 arrived on March 29 at the Haribon Hangar, Air Force City, Clark Air Base in Pampanga with the Vice Commander of PAF, Major General Conrado V. Parra Jr. AFP, as Guest of Honor.

Last year, IHS Jane’s reported the PAF confirmed it would look to secure government approval for 36 additional FA-50s after the delivery of the initial 12 aircraft.

Read the full story at Tankler

News Story: Air Force receives 2 more fighter jets from Korea

An FA-50PH (File Photo)

MANILA, Philippines — Two more FA-50PH fighter jets from South Korea arrived in the Philippines on Wednesday. 

The fourth batch of planes, which arrived on Wednesday, brings its total number of fighter jets to eight. 

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) received the new air assets, with tail numbers 007 and 008, at the Haribon Hangar, Air Force City at Clark Air Base in Pampanga.

The two jets are part of the 12 supersonic trainers bought for P18.9 billion in 2014 by the Aquino administration from South Korean defense contractor Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), under the military's modernization program.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: Closer ties with US allies seen to benefit Philippine military

By Patricia Lourdes Viray

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines under the Duterte administration should foster closer security ties with the United States and its security partners including Japan, South Korea and Australia, an analyst said.

This would strengthen the territorial defense capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the face of the South China Sea dispute with China.

Renato De Castro, a professor at the De La Salle Universitiy and trustee of the Stratbase ADR Institute, recently released a study titled "The Role of America's Alliances in the Philippines' Balancing Policy on China: From the Aquino to the Duterte Administration."

In his study, De Castro said that despite the administration's efforts to rekindle ties with China, it is also crucial and urgent to engage the US and its other bilateral allies diplomatically and strategically.

"Dynamic partnerships enable the Philippines to strategize its territorial/maritime defense," De Castro said.

The country's strategic relations have helped the military overcome inadequacies such as in conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations during and after natural calamities.

"As the Duterte administration pursues its economic alliance with China, it should also take note of how these bilateral security partners have helped the Philippines in its times of need," the professor said.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: (Philippines) Air Force builds up jet inventory

By Michael Punongbayan

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will acquire two more fighter jets from South Korea this month, bringing its total number of fighter jets to eight.

The fourth batch of FA-50 aircraft will arrive in the country on March 29, PAF spokesman Col. Antonio Francisco said yesterday.

PAF chief Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina will welcome the fighter jets that will land at the Haribon Hangar, Air Force City at Clark Air Base in Pampanga.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: Military launches airstrike vs BIFF

A military spokesperson said on Tuesday aerial assaults were launched as ground troops scour the interior of Datu Salibo town against the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

About 300 families have fled three adjoining villages in Datu Salibo town, Maguindanao for fear of getting caught in the crossfire between government forces and the BIFF.

Troops have launched pursuit operations against the BIFF after their renewed harassment against government forces and installations in the province, Capt. Arvin Encinas, 6th Infantry Division spokesperson said without mentioning what specific aircraft were used to carry out aerial assaults.

Read the full story at Tankler

News Story: Sayyaf wiped out by June – DND

By Roel Pareño

JOLO, Sulu , Philippines  – Security forces have been ordered to sustain the offensive against the Abu Sayyaf and to finish them off within a six-month deadline as ordered by President Duterte.

“The Armed Forces, the PNP (Philippine National Police) will sustain the operations against the Abu Sayyaf and we will try to finish them by the deadline,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told the troops here yesterday, reminding them of the six-month order of Duterte that started last January.

Col. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu (JTFS), expressed optimism they would meet the deadline.

Sobejana said they have all the resources of the Armed Forces to back their operations.

“We are confident we can even finish the job in less than six months,” Sobejana said.

“We are using all the might of the Armed Forces,” he added.

Sobejana said the military has started using TA-50 fighter jets against the militants.

Lorenzana led the top security officials in the visit here yesterday to assess the situation.

He was accompanied by National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Eduardo Año and commanders of the different military service units.

Sobejana briefed Lorenzana and top officials on the situation against the Abu Sayyaf.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: PAF positioned to procure 36 more FA-50s, 12 Leonardo AW109 helicopters

Philippines Air Force (PAF) FA-50 Fighter Aircraft

As a continuation of Philippine Air Force’ (PAF) medium-term modernization program, PAF is positioned to procure additional 36 FA-50s to meet a requirement specified in Flight Plan 2028 and 12 more AW109 Power light attack helicopters produced by Finmeccanica (Leonardo from January 2017), reports IHS Jane’s.

Securing orders of additional light combat aircraft and attack helicopters are included in the several procurement priorities, a senior PAF officer said before the Asian Defence and Security 2016 (ADAS 2016) exhibition in Manila.

After the delivery of the initial 12 aircraft, the official also confirmed that the PAF would look to secure government approval for the additional FA-50s.

Read the full story at Tankler

News Story: FA-50PH jets, artillery units destroy Abu Sayyaf hideout

A Philippines FA-50PH Fighter Aircraft

Government forces, using FA-50PH jet fighters and artillery units, bombarded an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) camp in Al Barka town, Basilan Monday early morning.

The strike, which took place 2:57 a.m., targeted an ASG camp in Barangay Macalang of the said town, said 1st Infantry Division public affairs office Major Richard Enciso.

The attack took place as the military intensified its rescue efforts for hostages still in the clutches of the terrorists.

Enciso said the ASG camp is headed by Furuji Indama and Nurhassan Jamiri. Following ground units reported finding blood trails in the bombarded camp.

Pursuit operations are still ongoing, he added.

Read the full story at Tankler