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Spratlys arms race heats up; AFP to buy six fighter jets(by Florante S. Solmerin)
Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. said senior military officials had recommended an initial six multi-role planes to be acquired within the term of President Benigno Aquino III.
He said the Air Force was looking at either Korea’s TA-50 Golden Eagle or Italy’s M-346, and depending on their arms and in-flight instrumentation would cost about P1 billion each.
Hans wrote:I like their selection IMHO... but I'm rooting for the TA-50... I think its more versatile than the M-346... plus the fact that it's a descendant of the F-16...
unless the potential adversary has BVR shootdown capability, I think these little speedsters will be very hard to shoot down... they are very small by current fighter standards, and both are highly maneuverable, and can carry a good punch...
The T-50 family’s empty weight is 14,000 pounds, and maximum takeoff gross weight is 29,700 pounds; the F404-GE-102 engine produces 17,700 pounds of thrust. Maximum rate of climb is 39,000 feet per minute; and the maximum speed is Mach 1.5. Service ceiling is 48,500 feet, the design load factor is 8gs, and the trainer airframe is designed for up to 10,000-hour service life (8,344 hours for the A-50).
Still, the plane is designed to be a trainer, with better rear visibility than a 2-seat F-16. An “active stick” ensures that stick movements in the front or rear are transmitted to the stick in the other seat, to improve monitoring and learning. Embedded training features, in-flight recording and post-mission debriefing capability are all built in. The standard tools of a modern fighter pilot’s trade are likewise present: “glass cockpit” of digital screens, HUD (Head Up Displays), HOTAS (Hands On Stick And Throttle) control systems to keep everything at the pilot’s fingertips, triple-redundant electrical system, fly-by-wire, advanced radio and navigation systems including INS/GPS, and a Martin-Baker zero-zero ejection seat. The seat back angle is 17 degrees – similar to the seat angles of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the F/A-22.
Per the standards for modern trainers, the aircraft is part of a larger, integrated training system that includes simulators, computer-based training, cockpit and maintenance trainers, and a training management system.
Maintenance has also received careful thought. The new trainer’s airframe will require no mandatory depot maintenance, and the aircraft boasts a “single-tier design” with some 250 access panels allowing technicians to get at any major system without having to remove any others. Extensive self-diagnostics will help keep maintenance costs down.
aumarigan wrote:One last thing.....would you believe our AFP is also PLANNING TO BUY A SUBMARINE?? WHERE THE HECK ARE WE GOING TO GET THE MONEY FROM?? Sorry guys...this is a navy thing....but .....jet fighters and a submarine???I LOVE the jet fighter thingy....but a submarine? Anyway.....we have submarine downloads for FS9 and FSX right? hehehe
SOURCE::::http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/05/12/11/philippine-navy-bent-buying-submarine

jap_ZERO_ONE wrote:
The KAI T-50's airframe reminds me of the F/A-18, F-5 and F-16 airframes. Clearly one of the light fighter aircraft types. If you ask me, this is a more realistic option, rather than purchasing the F/A-18 or Mig-29
Kevin wrote:
Of course Singapore has F-16s by the bushel. They don't need the TA-50s fighter-like performance, its similarity to the F-16 notwithstanding.

Shadowfox M40A1 wrote:Well, the truth hurts but AMRAAMs are expensive, AGM-65 Mavericks are expensive, GBU-12s are expensive, AGM-84 Harpoons are expensive. The fact is, whatever we're buying, it will only end up a mere sophisticated launch platform for unguided weapons -- 2.75 rockets and dumb bombs dropped by smart pilots. It's like buying a Core i7 Sandy Bridge PC with 32GB of DDR3 RAM, 120GB SSDs and a Radeon HD 6970 video card plus all the bells and whistles but you only intend to use it for running Microsoft Word 2003.
The incident occurred June 4 at the Dalagang Bukid Shoal, located about 131 nautical miles from Puerto Princesa City, according to Pama.
“The unidentified jet buzzed our fishing boat about 20 to 30 feet from the top of the mast of the fishing boat," Pama said. “The fishermen were not able to identify the origin [of the plane]. They just said it’s a jet because it produced a loud sound."
aumarigan wrote:Foreign jet harassed PHL fishing boat off Spratlys by KBK, GMA News,07/04/2011The incident occurred June 4 at the Dalagang Bukid Shoal, located about 131 nautical miles from Puerto Princesa City, according to Pama.
“The unidentified jet buzzed our fishing boat about 20 to 30 feet from the top of the mast of the fishing boat," Pama said. “The fishermen were not able to identify the origin [of the plane]. They just said it’s a jet because it produced a loud sound."
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/225278/nation/navy-foreign-jet-harassed-phl-fishing-boat-off-spratlys
This is not Spratly's anymore......its 131 nm from Puerto Princesa.....![]()
The Philippine Navy and Air force better provide these Filipino fishermen :
1.Aircraft identification/recognition Manual/booklet (maybe those were S211s?)
-current "textures" used by other claimants (sorry for using a flightsim term hehehe..can't help it)
-air force roundels used by all claimants
-Silhouettes of aircraft
2. Digital Cameras(they can bring their own eh? );
Ala Russian Fishing Trawler eh? hehehe
The government should substantiate its statements with solid evidence(photo,videos.....)![]()
And go purchase jet fighters that are REAL jet fighters....not those puny trainers of yore....
Back to reality....I'm rooting for the Golden Eagle....with sidewinders...and stop sending our PhAF pilots (on patrol) in jet ''fighters'' armed with pea-shooting .50 cal gun-pods...
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Jaime U. wrote:
Well, the reality is, that even if we do get fighter aircraft or whatever, there isn't an operational budget to keep them making daily sorties. Just how often do you think PAF pilots get to fly? And operating fighters are very expensive.
The only AAM in our arsenal is the AIM-9B (assuming that they even work). Sidewinders? I would be looking at the Vympel R-73...
In spite of our "special relations," with the U.S. of A., we are never given front line equipment. Conquered belligerent states such as Iraq and Afghanistan get better stuff than we do. The joke in the film, The Mouse That Roared was to declare war on America and then surrender and reap the benefits of a being a former enemy.
From Woody Island, China will have no problem sending its warplanes to the Spratlys as this is well within the operational radius of its fighters. However, one of China’s multirole fighters can reach as far Metro Manila.
Apart from the “unsinkable” aircraft carrier, China is scheduled to start sea trials of its first real aircraft carrier, the Shi Lang.
SOURCE: http://www.interaksyon.com
China tries a fast one on PH again in the Spratlys/By Victor Reyes/Malaya
While Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie was making a “goodwill visit” in Manila less than two weeks ago, his people were attempting to set up structures in an island, 126 nautical miles away from Palawan.http://www.ellentordesillas.com/?p=16357

Shadowfox wrote:
If conflict erupts, I wouldn't worry too much about buying fighters and stuff. Regardless of the odds, I have an obligation to defend my country anyway. Not hi-tech by any means, but I'll just wait for them to come onshore and give them a welcome reception with this:
"Only the best become a Fighter Pilot... climb into the seat of the world's most exciting aircraft and prepare for take-off"
These words are from a lovely old PC game and WOW!! now they become a reality. Now everyone can become a Fighter Pilot and the best will become an ACE, because here is the revolutionary SF/1


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