Philippine Air Force (PAF) expressed hopes to also acquire the multi-role fighters (MRF) jets for its fleet following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approval of its acquisition for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Last week, President Marcos approved the military’s proposal to acquire MRF to boost the country’s defensive capabilities.
According to AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr., the decision was reached during the AFP’s first command conference with the President.
Two possible contenders for the MRF project are the latest models of the US Lockheed Martin-made F-16s and the Swedish Saab JAS-39.
“Definitely, that is one of the biggest wish list of air force to have more fighter aircraft in our fleet, and as mentioned, we are hoping to have MRFs and compared to what we have right now, what we have right now is FF50s, but if we are going to have a MRF, that would be stronger aircraft, better aircraft, longer range better fighting capability, so that’s we are aiming for because we really have a very big archipelago to guard and protect,” PAF Spokesperson Colonel Maria Consuelo Castillo said.
“So, the addition of the MRF is a very big help to us in our territorial defense operations,” she added.
However, Castillo did not disclose the number of MRFs the AFP proposed to acquire.
“Right now we can’t answer that, all acquisitions should be answered by the offices beyond the PAF or higher than PAF,” she explained.
AFP Public Affairs Office Chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad however explained that acquisitions of any equipment and assets of AFP came with training as part of its standard procedures.
“When we tried to procure any acquisitions of any modern capabilities, it goes with training for the personnel to be able to man those particular equipment, it is standard procedure, we tried to procure, dapat kasama na ang training don,” Trinidad said.
Castillo however disclosed that the Air Force did not demand any specific models for the MRF and it’s up for the higher command to determine its specifications.
“As part of the acquisition process the major services usually send the lists of capabilities that we need. As for prepared capabilities, we don’t specify specific models for the aircraft so it would be up to the higher headquarters to determine which will be the best fleet to deliver required capabilities of PAF.”
