The government has set aside for 2018 some P25 billion for the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that will cover the acquisition of brand new attack helicopters, tanks and other military hardware.
AFP deputy chief of staff for plans and programs Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. said the acquisition of new military hardware is long overdue, adding that the modernization program has been implemented at a snail’s pace because of budgetary constraints.
Padilla said the military will procure brand new attack and utility helicopters for the Philippine Air Force and tanks for the Philippine Army.
The PAF has recently acquired a dozen new FA-50 jets from South Korea worth P18.9 billion.
This, however, is still a far cry from its inventory years back when PAF was second to none in Southeast Asia in terms of defense capability, with squadrons of jet fighters such as F-5s, F-8s and Sabre jets. All of these warplanes have been retired long ago.
There was also a time when the PAF had in its inventory over 140 helicopters but this had drastically reduced over the years due to wear and tear.
The Philippine Navy is also in dire need of buying new ships to secure the country’s long sea lane, which is twice the length of the United States.