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Philippines Hopes Got a grant from the US F-16 - The Philippines has asked the us to grant at least one squadron of F-16 fighter aircraft of the former is already unused in the u.s. air force to empower back. ' We're just trying to restore our strength as before, '' said Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, Wednesday (21/12/2011) in Manila. The Philippines practically had no power since the air force fleet of F-5A/B that already was 40-year-old retired several years ago. The Philippines also has AIR FORCE bombers and Scouts, and still operates the UH-1 h Huey helicopter from the Viet Nam War. Del Rosario was hoping the US will give the aircraft the F-16 used it through the mechanism of excess defense equipment (excess defense articles/EDA), such as grants to two squadrons of F-16s to Indonesia which is in the process.
Philippines Hopes Got a grant from the US F-16
Philippines Hopes Got a grant from the US F-16 - The Philippines has asked the us to grant at least one squadron of F-16 fighter aircraft of the former is already unused in the u.s. air force to empower back. ' We're just trying to restore our strength as before, '' said Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, Wednesday (21/12/2011) in Manila. The Philippines practically had no power since the air force fleet of F-5A/B that already was 40-year-old retired several years ago. The Philippines also has AIR FORCE bombers and Scouts, and still operates the UH-1 h Huey helicopter from the Viet Nam War. Del Rosario was hoping the US will give the aircraft the F-16 used it through the mechanism of excess defense equipment (excess defense articles/EDA), such as grants to two squadrons of F-16s to Indonesia which is in the process.This will demand the Philippines became one of the main issues of the talks when Del Rosario and Secretary of Defense Voltaire Gazmin traveled to Washington, the first quarter of next year. According to Philippine Foreign Minister had earlier been agreed, Washington gave some great warship and patrol planes are faster to monitor the area of dispute in the South China Sea, and promised to make a surveillance station in the Philippines to increase the vigilance of the maritime region's ' country. Last August, Washington delivered battleships (cutter) ex U.S. Coast Guard Hamilton-class battleships, which became the largest Naval fleet in the Philippines. The US is expected to send two more ships.
As in the process of granting these ships, Del Rosario hope grant F-16s from the UNITED STATES will be completely free of charge and included in the aid program. Manila will then bear the costs of repairs and refresher returned aircraft. Manila mentioned have budgeted funds amounting to 40 billion pesos (941 million/USD $ 8.5 trillion) in the period of the next five years to upgrade its military to buy helicopters, boats, and surveillance equipment. The Philippines is one of six countries which claim sovereignty in some areas of the South China Sea.