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| Some of the Paveway Kits and ITAS Missile Launchers that the US donated to the Philippines recently. Photo by PTV |
The United States (US) has donated Usd 18 million worth of Missiles, Missile Launchers and Guided Bomb Kits to the Philippines which consists of the following:
- 100 Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wireless-guided-2A (TOW-2A) Missiles
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| A C-130 Aircraft of the Philippine Air Force. Photo by rhk111 thru Wikimedia Commons |
The Inquirer has released an Article with some information about the current status and status of the acquisition of the C-130 Hercules Transport Aircraft of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).
* First is that currently only one C-130 is operational, two are undergoing Repair and Maintenance while another one is scheduled to for the same.
The Department of National Defense (DND) is planning to spend Php 58 billion in 2021 for the Modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Other details of the Budget allocation for the AFP Modernization in 2021 are as follows:
* The Php 8 billion reallocated this Year (2020) from the AFP Modernization Budget to fight the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Pandemic has been returned
* The annual Php 25 billion allocation for the AFP Modernization Budget will be there in 2021
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| An example of an Airbus H125 Helicopter, Photo from the official Airbus Website |
The Philippine National Police (PNP) just provided an update on the Aerial Assets that they have acquired or are acquiring, and it goes as follows:
* Three Airbus H125 Helicopters worth Php 205 million (Usd 4.19 million at the Exchange Rate of Usd 1 = Php 49) each have been delivered and currently undergoing Field Testing and Evaluation prior to Acceptance.
The Danish Press recently reported that the United States’ (US) National Security Agency (NSA) collaborated with the Danish Defense Intelligence Service to get information about the Eurofighter Typhoon, JAS-39 Gripen and the Defense Company Terma back in 2015.
The NSA reportedly tapped Telephone Information and E-Mail Correspondences possibly to gain some advantage or seal the US’ win as around that time Denmark was just about to choose a new Fighter Aircraft that will replace their F-16 Fighting Falcon Aircraft.
The Danish Government eventually chose the US’ F-35 Lightning II as the Winner of that competition.
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| A Paveway Smart Bomb, Photo from the official Raytheon Missiles and Defense Website |
The Inquirer reports that the transfer of Usd 18 million worth of Smart Bombs from the United States (US) could be made next Week (November 22-28, 2020) instead of next Month (December 2020) as told by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in previous News Reports.
The Inquirer also said that the Smart Bombs to be provided are manufactured by Raytheon. If so, then that will rule out the GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) as those are manufactured by the Boeing Company.
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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.
