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| GBU-49 Paveway II Smart Bombs, Photo from Wikimedia Commons and for reference only as no Model was mentioned in the Reports of the Weapons to be supplied to the Philippines in December 2020 from the US |
Defense Secretary Delfiin Lorenzana told Journalists recently that the United States (US) is transferring Usd 18 million worth of Smart Bombs to the Philippines. Other important details revealed by the News 5 Article are as follows:
* The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has been requesting for these Smart Bombs since 2013, but has been turned down by the US Congress during the Administration of Barrack Obama. The request though has now been approved under the term of US President Donald Trump.
* The News 5 Article said that no Smart Bombs were used during the Battle of Marawi in 2017, only Conventional Bombs were used by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) which resulted in various problems also like Soldiers being mistakenly hit by the Bombs and unexploded Bombs which continue to be a threat until now.
* The Bombs will be transferred thru the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) Program of the US.
* The Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Manila John Law assured Lorenzana that the US’ Policy towards the Philippines will not change under the new, incoming US President Joseph Biden.
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Just some of my Comments about the Report:
* If these are going to be provided thru the US EDA Program, then these will be taken from US Military Stocks.
* No mention of which Smart Bombs these will be, but they could be Paveway Smart Bombs (possibly the GBU-49 Paveway II and/or the Paveway IV) and/or GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM).
* The Defense Publication Jane’s lists the Philippines as a user of the Paveway IV Smart Bomb, so that is one possibility.
* The OV-10 Bronco Aircraft of the PAF are capable of using the Paveway Bombs, and the new A-29 Super Tucano Aircraft delivered recently are also qualified to use those Bombs.
* The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said that the Philippines received the JDAMs in 2011, and right now it is the only Smart Bomb that the FA-50PH Fighting Eagle is qualified to use right out of the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) Factory, so it may (or may not) be part of the delivery also.
* In August 2020, the PAF Publication “Flight Path Volume IV, July 2020 – The New Normal” said that the PAF was planning to integrate the GBU-49 Smart Bombs to the FA-50PH, so that is another possibility that could be supplied to the Philippines.
* An Article by the Defense News in June 2017 says that the GBU-49 is very similar to the Paveway IV, hence it may be possible for interchange the two Weapons on some Aircraft.
* I think it’s good that the US Government was able to allow this transfer under the outgoing US President Trump before he leaves Office next Year, because despite the assurances of the US Embassy in the Philippines, I think there will be some changes between US and Philippine relations under Biden. Just remember how antagonistic Biden’s Democratic Party has been towards the Duterte Administration these past couple of Years.
* So not only did the US abandon AbNoy Aquino in his confrontation with China in Panatag Shoal back in 2012, they also withheld Smart Bombs from him. And to think he was so subservient to the Americans, like a good Puppy (arf, arf).
* US MILITARY AID | Washington transfers $18M worth of Smart Bombs to Manila, assures steady relationship {Archived Link}
* Philippine Air Force OV-10 with Paveway Bomb
* Jane's lists the Philippines as a User of the Paveway IV Smart Bomb {Archived Link}
* Embraer Super Tucano {Archived Link}
* FA-50 Light Combat Aircraft Weapons {Archived Link}
* Philippine Air Force plans to integrate GBU-49 Guided Bombs and equip Pilots with Night Vision Devices on its FA-50PH Aircraft {Archived Link}
* Raytheon pushes GBU-49 as quick fix to give F-35 ability to hit moving Targets {Archived Link}
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