FA-50: The Low-Cost Alternative to Western Fighter Aircraft

With its sale to the Philippines, Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 fighter jet may be the answer for countries that cannot afford expensive western aircraft.

South Korea will provide the Philippines with 12 FA-50 jets worth $415.7 million. Priced at $35 million a jet, the FA-50 presumably costs lower than the JAS 39 Gripen besides lower operating cost than Swedish aircraft

Litening is a combat-proven multi-spectral airborne targeting and navigation pod.  It is designed for navigation and target illumination to improve day and night attack capabilities.  Litening presents pilots with real-time, Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) and Charge Coupled Device (CCD) imagery.  The high sensor resolution enables pilots to reliably identify the combat objects and consequently to avoid collateral damage.  It is fully operational 24 hours a day and in adverse weather conditions.

The aircraft is equipped with Joint Direct Attack Munition, the Sensor-Fused Weapon and the AGM-65 Maverick. According to KAI, the FA-50 could eventually add the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser and a host of Israeli munitions equipped with the Rafael Spice electro-optical/infrared/GPS/inertial guidance kit. It would also be able to carry the Rafael Litening II targeting pod. It is not known what weapons configuration will go with the Philippines order.

In December 2013, the Iraqi Air Force signed a $1.1 billion contract for 24 T-50 aircraft, which is the most advanced version of the FA-50, and will be able to serve both as an advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft.

Missiles for MPACs

A gunboat with Spike-ER installed

The Philippines will buy additional sea vessels worth P270 million to improve territorial protection operations, an official said Saturday.

The Spike-ER Anti Tank Guided Weapon (ATGW) is the extended long-range version of the Spike family, capable of defeating tanks at a range of up to 8 kilometers. This missile is designed for installation on land vehicles, helicopters and naval platforms. Spike-ER uses a day seeker or day/night seeker, tandem warhead, and retains the dual operation modes of Spike- Fire-and-Forget & Fire-Observe and Update.

In a statement, Department of National Defense (DND) Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said they are already accepting bidders for the acquisition of three more Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (MPAC) which has the ability to launch missiles.

“The winning bidder must be able to deliver the MPAC within 540 calendar days from the opening of the letter of credit,” said Manalo, chairman of the DND special bids and awards committee.

Sadral Missile System mounted on a Navy vessel...

Once the sea crafts are delivered, another separate contract will be given to the supplier for the missile launch system and remote weapon installation.

The Philippine Navy is currently utilizing its two sea war vessels, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz and BRP Gregorio del Pilar, and three peacock-class gun boats in patrolling and protecting areas, including the disputed West Philippine Sea.

Chinese Coast Guard Used Water Cannons Against Filipino Fishermen

Using water cannons, Chinese coast guard vessels tried to drive away Filipino fishermen from the disputed Scarborough Shoal last month, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista said Monday.

Chinese Coast Guard Vessel Patrolling the West Philippine Sea 

The Philippines would respond militarily if China uses force to drive away Filipinos fishing in waters around a disputed island in the South China Sea.

Gen. Bautista issued this warning as a response to reports that ships from China's Coast Guard drove away Filipinos fishing in areas around Scarborough Shoal using water cannons on Jan 27.

"We have to react militarily if force is applied," he said at an event organised by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

When asked about the situation around Scarborough Shoal, Gen Bautista said it is Manila's policy to avoid a confrontation with Chinese vessels patrolling the South China Sea.

But he stressed that it is the AFP's duty to defend Filipinos when they are subjected to "armed violence" within Philippine territories.

General Emmanuel Bautista, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the United States' ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg at a forum on Feb 24 organised by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines. Gen Bautista and Mr Goldberg are urging Beijing to return to a United Nations arbitration process to settle disputes over the South China Sea.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea but the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims.

Tensions between the Philippines and China have risen in recent years as Beijing becomes more aggressive in asserting its claims.

Last month, China also announced a new fisheries law that requires foreign vessels to seek permits for activities in much of the South China Sea, in another move that triggered angry protests from Manila.