P23-M allocated for repair of PAF trainer plane

The Philippine Air Force (PAF), through its Bids and Awards Committee, is allocating the sum of PHP23,216,000 for the acquisition of spare parts needed for the maintenance of the “crew escape system” of an FA-50PH “Fighting Eagle” light-lift fighter trainer. (Photo: Philippine Air Force/Facebook)

MANILA — The Philippine Air Force (PAF), through its Bids and Awards Committee, is allocating the sum of PHP23,216,000 for the acquisition of spare parts needed for the maintenance of the “crew escape system” of an FA-50PH “Fighting Eagle” light-lift fighter trainer.

The pre-bid conference is slated April 26, 1 p.m. at the PAF Procurement Center Conference Room, Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.

The submission and opening of bids is on May 8, 9 a.m. at the same venue.

“The Philippine Air Force reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR (implementing rules and regulations), without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders,” PAF Bids and Awards Committee chair Brig. Gen. Ferynl Buca said in the bid bulletin posted at the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System website.

The PAF’s 12 plane-order with Korea Aerospace Industries is worth PHP18.9 billion. The first two aircraft were delivered last Nov. 28, 2015 while the last two were delivered on May 31, 2017.

The FA-50PHs have a top speed of Mach 1.5 or one and a half times the speed of sound and is capable of being fitted air-to-air missiles, including the AIM-9 “Sidewinder” air-to-air and heat-seeking missiles aside from light automatic cannons.