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The Philippines' Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. recently told the Members of Congress that they plan to acquire 40 brand new Multi-Role Fighter (MRF) Aircraft for a budget of Php 400 billion, or approximately Usd 7.08 billion assuming an Exchange Rate of Php 56.53 per Dollar.
This amounts to Php 10 billion or around Usd 177 million per Aircraft. Teodoro said that they have already started the process of acquisition, and that all interested Bidders are required to offer a Financing Package that allows the Payments to be made in Installments over several Years.
The Number of 40 Aircraft is lower than the 48 reported by a News5 Article last Month of August of 2024 of which I have made a Video about. The Author of that Article was also the same one who said that the Philippines was supposed to be close to signing a Contract for the JAS-39C/D Gripen Aircraft back in March of 2024 which also turned out to be false.
Among the expected Bidders for the planned acquisition are Sweden's Saab AB which is expected to offer the improved Version of their JAS-39C/D Gripen Aircraft, the JAS-39E/F, and the United States' (US) Lockheed Martin (LM) which is expected to offer their F-16 Blk 70/72 Fighting Falcon Aircraft.
As I had posted a Video about it last Month of August 2024, LM has been busy the past several Months actively promoting their F-16, even bringing along to the Philippines their F-16 Simulator Demonstrator to promote it.
South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is pushing for their FA-50 Fighting Eagle and KF-21 Boramae Aircraft, and as I had made a Video also about in July of this Year of 2024, they confirmed that the Philippine Government had asked for a Request for Information (RFI) from them for the KF-21.
The French Company Dassault Aviation SA also has reportedly confirmed that they are offering their Rafale Fighter Aircraft to the Philippines. This is probably one of the Main Reasons why, for the first time ever, they brought two of them to the Philippines back in July of this Year of 2024 as part of the Heavy Air Package in South East Asia or “Pegase” 2024 mission.
India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is also joining the competition by offering their Tejas Mk 1A while the European Consortium, Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH is offering their Typhoon Aircraft.
The Budget of Usd 177 million per Aircraft is actually enough for the Philippines to buy the F-35A Lightning II Stealth Fighter Aircraft, but the US doesn’t seem to want to sell it to the Philippines as the Manufacturer of that Aircraft, Lockheed Martin has been silent about it for the Philippines and is only promoting their F-16.
So it is down to the JAS-39E/F Gripen, F-16 Blk 70/72 Fighting Falcon, FA-50 Fighting Eagle, KF-21 Boramae, Rafale, Tejas Mk 1A and Typhoon, at least one or two of these will be the MRF Aircraft of the Philippines if Teodoro gets the Budget that he is asking for them.
SOURCES:
* Philippine Defense Minister Seeks 40 New Fighter Jets – US, South Korea, Sweden Compete for the Deal {Archived Link}
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| Gripen, F-16, KF-21, FA-50, Rafale, Tejas and Typhoon to compete for Philippines' MRF Contract |
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