By Priam Nepomuceno/PNA
MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), through the Philippine Air Force (PAF) Bids and Awards Committee, is allocating the sum of PHP150.25 million for the acquisition of spare parts needed for the maintenance of two Korea Aerospace Industries-made FA-50PH light fighter trainers.
Scheduled for maintenance are FA-50PHs with tail numbers 001 and 002. Pre-bid conference is slated to be held at the PAF Procurement Center Conference Room, Villamor Air Base, Pasay City on April 16, the bid bulletin posted at the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System website said.
The deadline for the submission and opening of bids is at the same venue on April 30.
“The Philippine Air Force reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of Republic Act 9184 and its IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations), without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders,” PAF Bids and Awards chair, Brig. Gen. Ferynl Buca, said Thursday.
The FA-50PHs had their baptism of fire in the Marawi City campaign where they were heavily used for close-air support mission roles along with the venerable OV-10 “Bronco” turbo-prop attack aircraft, SF-260 light bombers and various attack helicopters of the PAF.
The FA-50PH has a top speed of Mach 1.5 or one-and-a-half times the speed of sound and is capable of being fitted air-to-air missiles, including the AIM-9 “Sidewinder” air-to-air and heat-seeking missiles, aside from light automatic cannons.
Twelve aircraft were acquired from Korea Aerospace Industries for PHP18.9 billion. Deliveries commenced in November 2015 and were completed in May 2017.
