SHAH ALAM: Vipers and Chinooks for Philippines. The Philippines may well be getting a dozen or so F-16 fighters and Chinook heavy lift helicopters soon, based on recent statements coming out from Washington.
The statement (edited for brevity):
US Secretary of State Blinken, US Secretary of Defense Austin, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Manalo, and Senior Undersecretary and Officer in Charge (OIC) of National Defense Galvez (referred to collectively as “the Secretaries”) convened the third U.S. Philippines 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Washington, D.C., on April 11, 2023.
Recognizing the importance of the U.S.-Philippines alliance to regional peace and stability, the Secretaries put forth a shared vision that supports the international rules-based order, deepens our economic ties, provides for our peoples’ broad-based prosperity, and addresses evolving regional and global security challenges.
Strengthen bilateral planning and interoperability to ensure readiness to respond to a range of crises and scenarios, through the conduct of high impact and high value joint exercises, trainings, and other activities as well as by fast tracking ongoing discussions on a new U.S.-Philippines Bilateral Defense Guidelines;
Prioritize the modernization of shared defense capabilities, particularly in the maritime domain, through various modalities, including U.S. Foreign Military Financing and Excess Defense Articles. The adoption of a Security Sector Assistance Roadmap in the coming months will guide shared defense modernization investments and inform the delivery of priority platforms over the next 5 to 10 years. In addition, the Security Sector Assistance Roadmap will identify areas for capacity-building to enhance the Philippines’ core institutions and support security sector governance. Meanwhile, both sides underscored the importance of fast-tracking discussions on an acquisition plan for a fleet of multi-role fighter aircraft for the Philippine Air Force, as well as of leveraging the additional $100 million in Foreign Military Financing that the United States announced last fall to acquire medium lift helicopters;
Accelerate the implementation of EDCA projects and increase investments in EDCA Agreed Locations to further support combined training, exercises, and interoperability between the U.S. and Philippine Armed Forces, as well as the Philippines’ civilian-led disaster preparedness and response capacities. The United States expects to have allocated over $100 million by the end of fiscal year 2023 toward infrastructure investments at the existing five EDCA sites and to support swift operationalization of the four new sites;
The statement above of course did not mention F-16s and Chinooks but we know that the Philippines are looking at least a dozen multi-role fighters. The air force has down selected the F-16 and JAS-39 Gripen for the project but with the statement above it is likely that if the US is funding the fighter deal, the Viper will be selected.
The Chinooks have been in the works since the US was instrumental in pushing Philippines to drop a deal to buy a dozen or Mi-17 helicopters from Russia during the last two years. Even by reimbursing the deposit paid by the Philippines. The US recently donated two Cyclone patrol boats to the Philippines Navy to add the sole one already operational.
— Malaysian Defence
View Comments (30)
@ Marhalim,
You wrote an article with the wrong understanding of terminology.
Blackhawk is the primary medium lift helicopter of the US Army.
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/01/25/sikorsky-hawk-helicopter-delivery/
The Chinook is defined as a heavy lift helicopter.
No, PAF medium lift helicopter requirement is for a Chinook size helicopter. Mi 17 is not a medium lift helicopter but it was chosen ahead of the Chinook as it was cheaper.
Wait, how did "medium lift helicopters" morphed into Chinooks?
They were talking about it, yes, but the more pressing needs is medium utility choppers ever since they scrapped to buy Bell412s and then later the Mi17s. Imho I think that will morph into Blackhawks for Pinoy rather than Chinooks for the moment.
They already bought Black Hawks, initially 16 and then another 32.
Pinoy is really flexing his muscle.
They already have FA50 and Super Tucano and eyeing MRCA. It is part of the deal with US on 4 military base. Pinoy were interested in Gripen. They will get a number F16 EDA and an Sq new F16 70/72. They
They also bought blackhawk and soon will be Chinook operator.
PN also already bought some combatan frigate and corvette. They also have ordered additional 2 LPD from ID.
Their military modernization "horizon plan" is really materialize.
Hope our politicians open their eyes that pinoy could surpass Malaysia in military modernization soon.
Nope, they call them medium lift helicopters like we call our Cougars medium lift helicopters like everyone else
"They already bought Black Hawks, initially 16 and then another 32"
They mention about leveraging so it could also be that USD $100mil will be used to offset to final price that Pinoy has to pay for those choppers.
Romeo - ''Pinoy is really flexing his muscle.''
Rome0 - '' that pinoy could surpass Malaysia in military modernization soon.''
Not again...
Look at things in objective totality. They are making up for lost time after decades of neglecting the PAF. They are able to do so because the economy has improved and the AFP has started to focus more on external defence rather than external security which BTW is still a lingering concern given that there is still the ASG, BIFF, Maute Group; NPA and others and the country is a vast archipelago.
As it stands the AFP as a whole is still in need for extensive modernisation and all the recent buys does not change the fact that there is a long list of things which are long long overdue for replecement and sustained funding is required.
Romeo - ''eyeing MRCA.''
Have been ''eying'' them since the 1990's when Kfir was offered and when the PAF looked at Fulcrums and Falcons.
The good news for them is that the mainstream press tends to do a better job srutinising and questioning authority; there is also more discourse/debate and the fact that several Congressmen/Senators are ex AFP also helps.
PAF original plan is for heavy (not medium as Marhalim says) lift helicopter, with Chinook as the intended helicopter. The program has always been referred to as Heavy Lift Helicopter Acquisition Project by PAF.
Lack of funds for meaningful numbers of Chinook meant that the budget for the Heavy Lift Helicopter Acquisition Project was diverted to buy Mi-17. Getting medium lift Mi-17 with the budget for the Heavy Lift Helicopter Acquisition Project is the cause of confusion among many observers.
But clearly this US statement is referring exactly to medium lift helicopters, of which Blackhawk (and not Chinook) should the one on offer. US in 2022 has proposed to sell/give additional blackhawks as a replacement for the cancelled Mi-17 buy.
So PAF Heavy Lift Helicopter Acquisition Project to get Chinooks will still be unfulfilled, as the Mi-17 seems will be replaced by more blackhawks.
Azlan-"They are making up for lost time after decades of neglecting the PAF"
When I wrote "flexing his muscle" was in the context that pinoy has bought so many in just few years and will still on arms market for sometimes due to their improved economy.
Will or Will not pinoy will surpass Malaysia is still a million dollar question, but if we look at the last 5 years and make a trajectory line then it is very possible. We can disagree on this.
How I see what pinoy did is similar to ID. They both have an executable plan and they go with the plan. Even both have bought some similar equipmemts. Super tucano, LPD, F16.
It just remind me of ID, how they were 10 years ago when they executed their MEF military plan and they still growing.
What about ATM's 4nextG, 15to5 and cap55 progress?
The Australians also call the Chinook a medium lift helicopter:-
https://www.defence.gov.au/project/medium-lift-helicopter