Excerpts of Lt. General Santillan(PAF) retirement speech:

Beginning September 2002, your Air Force successfully completed the recovery of 32 aircraft of various types – the biggest in the last 10 years, modesty aside, with no additional assistance from the government or private do-gooders. Significantly, most of these recovered or restored aircraft consist of utility and attack platforms needed for our AFP’s Internal Security Operations.

Let me mention that we spared no effort as well in adding to our fleet of assets through other means. The most notable of these, in fact, bore fruit in the form of eight (8) OV-10C Broncos which were donated by the government of Thailand following foreign country travels and high-level negotiations, including Presidential representation, before the leadership of Thailand.

Our particular focus on aircraft and equipment upgrade, on the other hand, has led to the successful procurement of twenty (20) UH-1H helicopters from STA Engineering of Singapore, all of which will be delivered before the end of CY 2004; the inclusion of ten (10) UH–1H under the US Excess Defense Article Program (and their delivery within a year), and the initiation of the Service Life Extension Program for our OV-10A Broncos.

Cognizant of the need to contribute more to new challenges, we likewise finally acquired the capability to fly and fight at night with night vision goggles. And we’ve improved "big lift" mobility with the programmed restoration of our C130s at the newly established in-country facility at the Air Force City in Clark. Regarding these, we are grateful to the United States for their commitment and assistance.

Complementing our Aircraft Recovery Program, allow me to likewise report the success of our technical capacity for maintenance and ancillary support for operational aircraft. Over two years back, the Air Force began improvements in support systems. But until then, our capability to focus spares requirements and do local repairs was at best modest and largely relied on personnel skill. Today the 410th Maintenance Wing and our other units have vastly improved their capabilities, upgraded their equipment, and computerized its resource management system. Now we can keep track of every maintenance phase and cycle for every aircraft from HPAF level. And every maintenance officer who has a real problem can now communicate directly to the HPAF concerned staff or to the CG himself.

In tandem with that, our logistics systems and procurement processes have been brought online to respond to immediate operational requirements faster and right where they’re needed.

Even as your Air Force flew better on account of restored, sustained, and modestly acquired capabilities, let me add that it continued to excel on the ground in its role as AFP’s complementary special force. During my watch, our special operations personnel, under the 710th Special Operations Wing became a cutting edge in ISO efforts in the Batangas province as well as the nucleus of a highly-reliable rapid deployment force against civil disturbance and terrorism. Our special operations warriors the other year recorded the biggest number of communist terrorist leaders neutralized or captured in ground combat operations and have made a dent in insurgent operations in the Batangas AOR. The previous year also marked the Command’s biggest haul of suspected terrorists – second in impact to our interception of Abdulmukim Edris in 2002.

It seems that only the Air Force is managing their funds efficiently.

This concern paints a shade of doubt on this achievement though.

Ive heard that the Air Force decision-makers are planning to weaken our external defense capability by closing down some Air stations.

If these stations will only be relocated to a more appropriate location then the people will understand that.

But if this is just a result of "what base should they compromise" just to save some funds,... then it is wrong.

BTW, i am just wondering why is the SPOW doing the tasks that other units like the Army, Marines and PNP-SAF are also doing?

The point here is that the money being appropriated for this group should have been allocated to the maintenance and even procurement of Air Force assets instead.

What? Too many generals will go on floating status if you do?

We should consider what is best for the country here and NOT what is best for them.

That's just my view though. :armyroleyes:

baka sa totoo na to mga tol... :thumb:

An F-16, a Harrier, and Hueys are coming.

The much-awaited modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines shows vital signs again.

"We are acquiring a squadron of surface attack aircraft," Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia, AFP vice chief of staff told reporters yesterday, noting that the air force will eventually have the more advanced fighters to replace the grounded F-5 widow-makers.

"These are now being bidded out to interested companies from the United States, United Kingdom, France and Israel," he said.

Not to be outdone, Navy chief Vice Admiral Ernesto de Leon bared that three combat vessels are due to arrive next month. The ships - a Cyclone Class fast attack craft from the US, and two patrol killer medium class ,,(PKM) boats from South Korea - will be commissioned, along with two vessels on repair, for border operations

"These additional craft will help the Navy in its sustained, border patrols with our Malaysian and Indonesian counterparts to combat lawlessness," De Leon said

Meanwhile, Garcia made no mention of Taiwan as among, the- bidders. It will be recalled that China raised a howl on the Philippines' plan to buy F5s from Taipei, Manila observes the One-China policy.

http://www.army.mil.ph/Press_Release/Nws_C...y/09_Jan/9.html

:werock:

Gen Rodolfo Garcia, former AFP Vice Chief of Staff, retired July last year. The current VCSAFP is Admiral Ariston De Los Reyes. That was a year ago, has any of it happened? I will do pushups until it happens.

Ratatat that news is old news - one year since it was posted on January 9, 2004 and we are still waiting for the F16s and Harriers or Kfirs to arrive... :devilwink:

As consolation, a number of Hueys did manage to get here safely.

DATE:09/08/05
SOURCE:Flight International
Philippines seeks upgrades and life extension for light attack fleet

The Philippine air force has begun an engine upgrade for part of its Rockwell OV-10 Bronco fleet and is considering a more comprehensive service life-extension programme.

Industry sources say Boeing, which acquired Rockwell, is offering the air force a package of structural enhancements and new avionics that would be installed by local maintenance company Asian Aerospace.

The two companies are trying to convince the air force to initially upgrade three or four aircraft, with possible financial support from the US government, and eventually the entire fleet of 14 aircraft. Boeing earlier led similar upgrade programmes for OV-10 operators in South America and the US Department of State.

The air force in May outfitted two of 14 OV-10s with new propellers and overhauled engines provided by Arizona-based Marsh Aviation. The service says it has contracted Marsh to help upgrade another six OV-10s with the engine and propeller installations done in-country by air force mechanics.

Industry sources say the Philippine’s ageing OV-10 fleet will also require new avionics, upgraded wiring and airframe enhancements if the aircraft are to continue performing their light attack role. The OV-10s, which are approaching 15,000h in service, are the only attack aircraft remaining in the air force’s active inventory and are playing a critical role in the fight against insurgent groups. They also are aiding the Philippines in its US-supported fight against piracy and terrorism by operating maritime patrols.

Asian Aerospace, which is now refurbishing Lockheed Martin C-130s and Fokker F27s for the air force, has set aside one of its four hangars at Clark air base outside Manila for potential OV-10 upgrades. But the air force says an avionics/structural upgrade programme has not been officially launched.

Meanwhile, the refurbishment and reactivation of the first of four of the air force’s C-130Bs has again been delayed because additional structural work is required. Asian Aerospace, which initially planned to complete its first C-130 overhaul last year for $1.5 million, now plans to deliver the aircraft in October.

BRENDAN SOBIE/SINGAPORE

Good to hear more upgrades on the way for the Bronco! :thumb:

Nice effort by our government in upgrading our remainig
0V10 planes. :armycheers:

how about a financial aid package from the private sector to help the institution in the upgrade of the remaining OV-10.

nice idea. But why settle for the OV-10s? Raised the USD5,000 and get those F5-A/Bs. :armyLol:

I believe the Canada is still selling their CF-5A/B's. Probabbly need to consider that. They are probably more advance than the Korean or other examples.
God bless . . . .

Actually, an OV10 upgrade package is still a good deal. OV10s are COIN Aircraft. They're supposed to be cheap prop planes meant to take down small armed camps with minimal fortification. It's better to use prop planes in COIN since they better loiter time and since you are using visual targetting, they need something of much slower speed. Fast jets have high closure rates making visual target acquisition difficult for ground or slow-moving targets. Those jets also use up more fuel. Besides, you don't need speed that much since the major threats AFP is fighting right now don't have Air Defense more serious than .50 cal MGs. The NPA or ASG don't have access to something like 14.5mm autocannons or shoulder-mounted SAMs as intel would suggest. Besides, planes like OV10s or AT28s can be deployed from forward bases close to the frontlines so you don't need to wait that long for them to deliver.

However, those F5As are just as essential not only as Fighter/Trainers but as high-speed recce planes and for intercepting hijacked airliners or planes used for smuggling. Though, RADAR-equipped intermediate fighters like Mirage F1s, A4s or F5Es are more a much better deal if only they don't cost too much compared to those throwaway F5As.

Right now we have to think of another COIN airplane right now.Much better if we are going to activate our F-5 squadron. Instead of flying those UH -1H sorties we should give them the real designation of the F-5 fleet. Nothing wrong with that.Right we need those jets badly specially in terms of our national security. And to think that those OV-10 bronco's flying hours are nearly to the limit. We can't afford to just upgrade and upgrade in the coming years.

Since the SLEP program was started already i hope the leadership of the PAF will continue what they had started. I hope there will no set back's from the PAF and Abolition of the contract.

GO FLY BOYS .....................................

jammerjamesky: although i dream of seeing EMB-314 ALXs doing COIN sorties in the PAF, i still think that those OV-10s, given the necessary upgrades, can still do the job well.

if we can upgrade the OV-10s and the MD520MGs, then the PAF will still have potent COIN platforms that it can depend on in fighting Commies, Islamic separatists and thugs.

as for the F-5A/Bs, i really don't want to buy the idea of acquiring those soon-to-be discarded F-5A/Bs from South Korea. the PAF will be better off having aircraft such as the F-5E/F, Kfir and Mirage F1.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. Tuesday urged Malacañang and Congress to find ways to fund the acquisition of a new fleet of fighter planes for the Philippine Air Forces (PAF) following the decision of defense and military authorities to decommission 37 F-5 planes.

Pimentel deplored that the retirement of the 40-year old F-5s, which were acquired from the United States, has left the country practically defenseless from aerial attacks by a hostile country.

The Philippines was the first Asian country which acquired the F-5s, making it the envy of its neighbors. From 1965 to 1995, a total of 37 F-5s were delivered by the US to the Philippines.

With the decommissioning of the two-engine supersonic fighter jets, the PAF has become among the most ill-equipped in Southeast Asia, with accident-prone trainer jets (Italian-made Augusta 2-11 planes) and ageing, second-hand helicopters remaining as its air assets.

Pimentel said the pitiful condition of the PAF should not be left unheeded by the government because of its serious repercussions on the country’s external security.

He said the Senate minority bloc believes that the modernization of the AFP should be given priority by the government in terms of budgetary allocation.

“The Senate opposition is ready to help the air force get its due. Responsible officials must tell us what can be done reasonably and fast,” the minority leader said.

Pimentel said Congress enacted the law on the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in 1995 with the high hopes that it will beef up the fighting capability of the air force, navy and army through the acquisition of new and more efficient equipment and weapons.

He lamented the observation among military brass that the AFP modernization program “never took off” allegedly because of the bungling of government officials who “put politics above the country’s security.”

But admittedly, he said the AFP modernization has been hobbled from the start by funding constraints.

The fighter planes needed to replace the overused and obsolete F-5 would reportedly cost US$36 million each.

The retirement of the F-5s was supposedly the result of the decision of the Department of National Defense to channel the AFP’s insufficient resources to internal security operations since there was “no immediate external threat” against the Philippines.

Pimentel urged leaders of the executive and legislative branches to get their acts together to put the AFP modernization of the air force back on track and rectify a dangerous situation where the country has no external air defense system to speak of.

As an archipelagic country, he said the Philippines should strive to build a strong air force and navy if it is to fully secure its vast maritime territories and air space and effectively pursue a foreign policy and economic diplomacy that will advance the national interests.

I hate to admit it but I agree with pimentel... :drunk:

If we play our cards right we could benefit much in this pursuit for new MRFs. I propose that we play our diplomatic aces. We must take into consideration what we could benefit from the Nationalist Chinese. And to take matters to a higher level, we even expand our diplomatic influence with Iran. Why these two nations? One, we can become a peace broker between two potential flashpoints. That makes us have something to bargain things with in the future. And since we require an affordable follow-on to our F-5s the developments these two nations have done on it would surely help us. Taiwan had done their own improvement on the F-5 and even designed a successor to it before the Ching Kuo came to the drawing board. The Iranians too have created their own F-5 copy plus successors to it and if reports are correct within 4th generation tier.

Why continue with the F-5? The F-5, in my belief has room for improvement. If the Iranians have created a close copy of the YF-17 from the lessons they learned for developing their own F-5 version. If the Nationalist Chinese had developed the Ching Kuo IDF from lessons learned from developing their own improved F-5s and are now in the process of creating a successor to the IDF then so could we.

Of course, we need to continue the process of checking out modern MRFs. These must be true 4th generation machines and not improved 3rd generation models. Why? For only through such models can we hope to learn a leap ahead what we should integrate to our own future MRF.

finally... someone in the Congress of the Philippines noticed the Philippines' need to boost its external defenses. hopefully, something will come out of this. :drunk:

that is only a small price to compared with what more we might loose with out external security

But if any future MRF would meet remarks like this:

A few years ago the aunt of my friend came over to offer the government parts for the aircraft from the swiss, when they invited the so called generals to look at the parts in switzerland, would u believe they brought their wives and had the aunt of my friend pay for all of them as well. we would understand an ocular inspection is proper but why bring the wives. whats worse the so called aides of these generals were so corrupt one incident told to me was that some Lt. was having a hard time saying what he wanted even before a deal was struck, he ended up drawing something on a piece of paper uttering the words "eto lang yug sa aking ma'am" the wanker drew a car.

it is indeed sad, but there are people to blame.

From Kidon's reply at Filairsoft.com

I doubt that any progress would be made.

I cant believe in their sincerity like the opposition. In the congress alone, it was only a budget proposal from the Palace pumutak na agad ang mga opposition eh. Try to visit the congress right now.Alamin nyo ang budget hearing nila. Nakita lang ng mga Congressman lalo na tong mga Party-List ang Budget allocation for the AFP that grows for 15% they already questioned and opposed for the said allocation.

And i really believe that its time to revisit the AFP Modernization Law in 1995. We do missed a lot of acquisition. Currency rate when the Bill was plotted is $1 - P25 so that was there calcualated price. In the Senate up to Jan-Sept 21, 250 Bills that came the House of Representative that needed an inquiry and deliberation right now, even 1 one they never manage to finished. The national Budget hearing was the only one they manage to come up. The Anti-Terror Bill of Gullas and Golez, Hospilization Bill, Housing Reform Bill, and others. ayon nakatinga pa rin sa senado. Tapos sasabihin nila ang uunahin ang modernization? Where is the sincerity there? Lets take it one at a time.

Now politicians are afraid of the loss of external defense?

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS_FLAS...20053643_11.htm

Palace, Congress urged to find ways to fund Air Force modernization
10/04 4:35:21 PM

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. Tuesday urged Malacañang and Congress to find ways to fund the acquisition of a new fleet of fighter planes for the Philippine Air Forces (PAF) following the decision of defense and military authorities to decommission 37 F-5 planes.

Pimentel deplored that the retirement of the 40-year old F-5s, which were acquired from the United States, has left the country practically defenseless from aerial attacks by a hostile country.

The Philippines was the first Asian country which acquired the F-5s, making it the envy of its neighbors. From 1965 to 1995, a total of 37 F-5s were delivered by the US to the Philippines.

With the decommissioning of the two-engine supersonic fighter jets, the PAF has become among the most ill-equipped in Southeast Asia, with accident-prone trainer jets (Italian-made Augusta 2-11 planes) and ageing, second-hand helicopters remaining as its air assets.

Pimentel said the pitiful condition of the PAF should not be left unheeded by the government because of its serious repercussions on the country’s external security.

He said the Senate minority bloc believes that the modernization of the AFP should be given priority by the government in terms of budgetary allocation.

“The Senate opposition is ready to help the air force get its due. Responsible officials must tell us what can be done reasonably and fast,” the minority leader said.

Pimentel said Congress enacted the law on the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in 1995 with the high hopes that it will beef up the fighting capability of the air force, navy and army through the acquisition of new and more efficient equipment and weapons.

He lamented the observation among military brass that the AFP modernization program “never took off” allegedly because of the bungling of government officials who “put politics above the country’s security.”

But admittedly, he said the AFP modernization has been hobbled from the start by funding constraints.

The fighter planes needed to replace the overused and obsolete F-5 would reportedly cost US$36 million each.

The retirement of the F-5s was supposedly the result of the decision of the Department of National Defense to channel the AFP’s insufficient resources to internal security operations since there was “no immediate external threat” against the Philippines.

Pimentel urged leaders of the executive and legislative branches to get their acts together to put the AFP modernization of the air force back on track and rectify a dangerous situation where the country has no external air defense system to speak of.

As an archipelagic country, he said the Philippines should strive to build a strong air force and navy if it is to fully secure its vast maritime territories and air space and effectively pursue a foreign policy and economic diplomacy that will advance the national interests.

question is, is there anyone from the admin listen to him??? :dunno:

The problem with what comprises our Congress (both the Lower House and Senate) is that a lot of them are just popular personalities. Many seem to have no brains in their heads or are just after self-interests. Unfortunately, we cannot blame the voting public for this because it is very likely that corrupt Comelec officials manipulated things so these unfit creatures would win.

What we could do is enlighten this creatures by knowing how to control them. Any posters here who are lawyers who could give a good advice on this? That way, we could even impeach our congressmen and women who don't perform up to our expectations.

they should :whogives:

ride on lang sa issues ang alam nila.kung ano ang bago then doon ang attention nila.

If they dont then let's kick the incumbent administration out so the minority or the opposition will have their chance to fulfill their dream for our country! :exactly:

But honestly, that's exactly the role of being REPRESENTATIVES and SENATORS,...

.. to represent the people. The people's will is what they should work on. Right?

Diba? :thumb:

Oh ala cge! hehehe pwede na mag-martsa. :funnypost: hehehe joke lang po.

Where is the sincerity in this people? Even in the house of Representative all i heard in the budget hearing was the reaction of the Opposition Personalitites why the AFP/DND was given a 15% in their budget? Tapos sasabihin nila na ganoon? Common guys we tired of hearing this old song. Even in Senate according to an interview with Majority leader Nograles there 250 Bills from Jan-Sept 21 this year that has not been enacted and delibarated by this people. How can they tuckle Modernization if the there are 250 Bills on line for deliberation out and of 25/250 are priority bills by the government. In the Year 2004 there are only 4 National Bills they have been enacted and deliberated kasama na doon ang Budget ng 2005. Eh yung dinidinig pa lang nila ngayon sa senate ay budget para sa 2006. how can they be serious?

Its about time!

:headbang:

They should justify the taxes paid by filipinos by working on some important issues that this country is facing. Di na lang puro rally..

One of the issues is the budget to buy aircraft for the replacement of the retired F-5.

For me, the agile F-16 C/D: at least 15 of this type and 10 F-18 for long range patrol plus 8 RADAR stations.

Let's see if the Chinese will not think twice in entering our territory specially their submarines..

Add to that is 6 OPV's and 3 GM Corvettes plus 3 AIP submarines.. :snipemo:

Total political reform is what we need. In the whole we, our country has the most numbe of election. kundi lang nalipat ang election ng Barangay at SK eh di election na naman sa May. This 2007 election na naman. Political Arena in our country must be taken into context of maturity, and reform.

Lumang tugtugin na yang pautot ni Pimentel, trying to curry favor with the AFP in order to attract them to stage a coup against the government. All throughout the time of Erap, even the purchase of F-16s was abandoned by Erap. What a waste because the value of the peso vis a vis the dollar was higher, hence more jet aricraft could have been acquired at lower prices. Everyone in this forum know that even the purchase of NZ A-4s was scrapped in Erap's time. What did he do? He declared war on the MILF and paraded unflyable F-5s in the Zambo runway (see Boss Manoski's Timawa forum). If opposition is really serious, yan sana ang issue na irally nila sa mga street parliaments nila.

City Hunter is right...

PAF should continue improving the F-5 even just a single plane coz from there we can build a better plane. Buying a 4th Generation fighter is ok nut we should not depart from our dream of making our own fighters and it is with the blue prints of the F-5 that will lead us onto it. Now that the Squadron of PAF has been retired a couple of these should be subjected to upgrade and reingineering.

If China and Taiwan can do it theres no reason why we cant.. :patrioticpinoy:

Para maganda.

IPASA MUNA ANG BILL TAPOS BIGYAN NG BUDGET.

Then pwede na suportahan oposisyun.

But until this comes to fruition, eh utuin din natin sila. :funnypost:

Kaso panu papasa kung di sila majority at di administration party? Siyempre taob kay PGMA yan.

So, pakita muna ng grupo ni Pimental ang kanilang kayang gawin KUNG SAKALI NA SILA NA ANG MAY HAWAK NG SENADO AT KONGRESO para masuportahan natin ngayun.

Diba po?

Nothing new with their bla-bla-bla blues in the senate.Kaya nga sinuka sa Cagayan de oro dahil ayaw sa kanya ng taga doon. He better sponsor the review of the Modernization Law if he is really serious on this matter. Pakita muna nya sensiridad nya sa Senado at AFP. aT tigilan na nila ang" IN AID OF LEGISLATION DAW" kita naman natin ang partisan politics. AT yung pinagpuputok nya ng bunganga dapat yung AFP modernization muna ang unahin muna baka mamaya magising tayo bimomba na pala ang senado and terrorista.

HAYAAN NATIN PARA BALANG ARAW SILA PUTUKAN NG KAPABAYAAN NILA AT KATAKAWAN SA PAGGAWA NG PARAAN KUNG PAANU MAGNAKAW.

SANA DUMATING ANG ARAW NA PATI SENADO PINAPASABOG NA .


:bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:

Naka! Pimentel is just trying to grandstand again. This is a fact that has been known to them before.

Lintek! Pimentel is nothing but an opportunist. Mamamatay na lang, manloloko pa rin...

So the F-5s still worked during it's demise. At least that jolted the wits out of these so-called lawmakers.

Now, the sad part. When will they start to worked on it! :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

Send those JI bombers in the Senate Right now. At ng maipasa na nila ang 250 bills na nakapila sa mga puwet nila. They are so weak in terms of legislation imagine P4 billion budget for their PORK last year tapos only 4 bills have been passed.ibig sabihin 1 billion ang halaga ng 1 bill sa senate.

those Congressmen and Senators are just good in building waiting sheds and basketball courts and driving in expensive SUVs but not in enacting laws. :drunk: :headbang: :demon:

The culprit here is the United States through Jusmag and the Pentagon idiots! It was the US who insisted that the AFP-PAF- and the Philippine govt should mothball the fighter wing of the PAF or else they would stop supplying spare parts for the C130's, and hueys for free. and of course the US would probably hold its promise of arming and expanding the Light Reaction Company. It was a blackmail! the AFP realized that those promised helicopters, C130's, body armors and NVG's are more important than those F5 junks!


Now the ball is in the US hands, the US must do her share by transfering to the PAF their surplus cobra helicopters, hueys, C130's, cyclone patrol boats, for the PN and body armors, NVG's for the ground troops.

The only problem is that even if we weren't a US proxy. We will still be stuck in this War on Terror hoopla. We are a predominantly Christian country with secular with a secular government. Muslims here are marginalized. There is still wide gap between rich and poor. That makes us a fertile ground for Tangos.