PAF allots P32-M for FA-50PH ‘canopy jettison rocket motors’

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is now looking for suppliers capable of delivering “canopy jettison rocket motors” needed for the maintenance of its eight South Korean-made FA-50PH “Fighting Eagle” jet fighters. (PNA photo)

MANILA — The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is now looking for suppliers capable of delivering “canopy jettison rocket motors” needed for the maintenance of its eight South Korean-made FA-50PH “Fighting Eagle” jet fighters.

The budget for the project is placed at PHP32,832,000.

The said components are for FA-50PH aircraft with tail numbers 003 to 010.

Pre-bid conference is slated for June 20, 10 a.m. at the PAF Procurement Center, Conference Room, the bid bulletin posted at the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System said Thursday.

The final submission and opening of bids is on July 4, 9:15 a.m. at the same venue.

“All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference/s, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR),” PAF Bids and Awards Committee chair Brig. Gen. Fernyl Buca said in the same bid bulletin.

The FA-50PHs had its baptism of fire in the Marawi City campaign where it was heavily used for close-air support mission roles along with the venerable OV-10 “Bronco” turbo-prop attack aircraft, SF-260 light bombers and various attack helicopters of the PAF.

The FA-50PHs has 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.

Twelve aircraft were acquired from Korea Aerospace Industries for PHP18. 9 billion. Deliveries commenced on November 2015 and were completed in May 2017.