Iraq having trouble maintaining their F-16C/IQ Fleet

Iraqi Pilots anonymously told Fox News that their Air Force is having problems maintaining their fleet of F-16C/IQ Fighter Aircraft. As per the Flight Global World Air Forces 2019, Iraq currently has 26 F-16C and F-16IQ Fighter Aircraft in its Inventory.

Iraq’s problem is that they are heavily dependent on Spare Parts and Contractors from the United States (US) to maintain the F-16C/IQ, but the Contractors left early this Year (2020) due to threats of attack by Iran on the Airbases where the aircraft were being kept. 

The lack of Spare Parts resulted in Iraq making their own Parts and putting them on the Planes thereby voiding their Warranties. 

COA says the PITC is ineffective in procuring Weapons and Equipment for the PNP

The Commission on Audit (COA) said that the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) has been ineffective in facilitating the procurement of Weapons and Equipment for the Philippine National Police (PNP). 

Of the Php 1.3 billion worth of Procurement facilitated by the PICT for the PNP, only Php 300 million has been delivered, with the majority or Php 1 billion worth of Items still undelivered up to now. 

The undelivered Weapons and Equipment include Utility Trucks, Automatic Grenade Launchers and Light Personnel Carriers. COA said that the low delivery rate defeats the purpose of having PICT facilitate the Procurement in the first place.

Brazilian Aircraft accompanied the Philippine Air Force A-29 Super Tucanos during their crossing of the Atlantic Ocean

UPDATE (09/05/20): See the post about the SC-105 that was supposed to accompany the Philippine Air Force A-29 Super Tucanos at SC-105 Amazonas Aircraft supposed to accompany the PAF Super Tucanos landed in Cape Verde in Sep. 4, 2020 {Archived Link}

The A-29 Super Tucano Aircraft of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) were accompanied by an SC-105 Amazonas Aircraft of the Brazilian Air Force when they crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Fernando de Noronha in Brazil to Cape Verde in Africa. 

The SC-105 is a Search and Rescue (SAR) version of the Airbus C295 Aircraft and is equipped with an EL/M-2022A Radar and Star Safire III Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR) System. 

SOURCES:

* Joao Luís Zoobi Twitter Account Tweet, 08/31/20 - 0755H {Archived Link}

* FAB takes delivery of new Search and Rescue Aircraft {Archived Link}

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Naval Forces Central conducts KADAGATAN 2020 Exercise

The Naval Forces Central (NAVFORCEN) Command of the Philippine Navy (PN) recently conducted the KADAGATAN 2020 Field Training Exercise (FTX) off the Coast of Cebu. 

Among the Air and Naval Assets used in the Exercise were two of the four Patrol Boats that China donated in 2018, and as can be seen from the Photos, those Boats were put to very good use. 

When the Boats were donated in 2018, a ranking PN Official who refused to be named told the Inquirer that, “It’s an additional asset but it’s not tried and tested. ‘Pakitang tao’ (It’s a pretense)”. 

Duterte looking to increase further the PNP and AFP Budget by Php 20 billion for 2021

President Rodrigo Duterte is looking to increase further the budgets of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) by Php 17 billion and Philippine National Police (PNP) by Php 3 billion for the Year 2021. 

The Department of National Defense (DND) Budget for 2021 has already been increased by Php 29.4 billion from Php 179.7 billion in 2020 to Php 209.1 billion. 

The current Budget increases for the major Branches of the AFP from 2020 to 2021 are as follows:

Philippine Air Force Partial Map Route from Brazil to Spain

Showing on the Map the Partial Delivery Route of the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) A-29 Super Tucano from Brazil, to Cape Verde, Canary Islands and Malaga in Spain. After Malaga the Aircraft will be heading to Malta

SOURCE: IMAGENS: A-29 Super Tucanos partem do Brasil para entrega a Força Aarea das Filipinas {Archived Link}

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The Commission on Audit criticizes the AFP for delays in its Modernization Projects due to Technical Shortcomings

The Commission on Audit (COA) criticized the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for the poor implementation of its Modernization Projects due to, and I quote, “failure to conduct detailed Engineering investigations, Surveys and Designs prior to bidding and Award of Contract”.

COA noted down the following issues on the AFP’s Modernization Projects:

* 28 Projects costing Php 5.7 billion not completed within the specific Contract time. 
-  Some of these Projects were completed only in the last Quarter of 2019 even if their Contract Delivery Dates were supposed to be in 2018.
- 11 of these 28 Projects were still ongoing as of December 31, 2019 even if their Contract Delivery Dates were supposed to be in 2018 and early 2019.