MANILA, (PNA) — Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo has confirmed negotiations with the South Korean manufacturer of the F/A-50 “Golden Eagle” jet aircraft is continuing.
He said late Friday the DND was dealing directly with Korea Aerospace Industries and South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
“We are still waiting for the sales agreement and the approval of the program by the President,” Manalo said, in reply to questions on the F/A-50 acquisition program.
The F/A-50 is included in the 24 priority projects for the AFP Modernization for 2013 to 2017.
Manalo described the F/A-50 as “fighter aircraft” with capabilities common to most jet fighters.
The Philippines is in the market for 12 supersonic trainer aircraft which can double up as interim fighter and attack planes for the Philippine Air Force which allocated P18 billion for this program.
The Government Procurement Policy Board earlier gave the DND the “green-light” to start pre-negotiations with the South Korean government for 12 F/A 50 aircraft last January.
The F/A-50 is also known as the TA-50.
Its design is largely derived from the F-16 “Fighting Falcon,” and they have many similarities: use of a single engine, speed, size, cost, and the range of weapons, military officials said.