Philippines expected to receive more excess defense articles from United States

 

Philippine Army and US Marine units during Balikatan 2019 joint exercises. Photo c/o US Department of Defense.


The United States government has offered to provide the Philippines several new and excess defense articles as part of a proposed military aid, as negotiations on the US-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) continues.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte previously said that US government should pay or provide more military aid to the Philippines for its use of Philippine military facilities.

He also compared that the military aid provided by the US government to other countries like Pakistan, Egypt and Israel are far higher than what the Philippines receive annually.

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez confirmed that the US government has provided a list of proposed military aid to the Philippines, which he believes would be sufficient enough for Pres. Duterte to agree on keeping the VFA agreement.

According to Philippine defense page MaxDefense Philippines, the US has already several military aid proposed to the Philippine Department of Defense (DND), many of which were requested by the Armed Forces of the Philippines since a few years ago. 

The Philippine Army already received an offer from the US for the transfer of several Sikorsky Black Hawk combat utility helicopters and Bell AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters back in 2019, and was scheduled to inspect them in 2020. Additional helicopters and land vehicles were also requested from the US.

MaxDefense Philippines also revealed that the Philippine Navy also requested for several ships and aircraft from the US including new ScanEagle 2 UAVs, surplus Beechcraft TC-12 Heron twin engine aircraft, and some ships and boats which the page declined to name.

The page also revealed that the US also offered surplus F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft should the Philippine Air Force select the Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 Viper for its Multi-Role Fighter requirements. 

The PAF was also said to have requested for additional C-130 Hercules transport aircraft on top of ongoing deliveries as part of an earlier agreement, and other fixed wing and rotary aircraft which the page declined also to identify.




[1]
Philippine News Agency
[2] Inquirer.net
[3] MaxDefense Philippines

Philippines expected to receive more excess defense articles from United States Philippines expected to receive more excess defense articles from United States Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal on March 14, 2021 Rating: 5

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