Paul Lewis/Singapore
The Philippines is shortly to issue a best-and-final request for tender (RFT) to a "shortlist" of six competing fighter manufacturers, in what is proving to be increasingly drawn-out selection process.
A Philippine air force technical committee has completed its evaluation of competing types and had been expected to recommend to the Government a shortlist of three fighters in August. No decision has been forthcoming, however, and instead "-the intended shortlist has grown into a longlist of six," says a local defence source.
Results of the technical evaluation were passed to the defence ministry, which in turn forwarded them to the presidential palace for a decision on the new multi-role fighter. President Fidel Ramos' office has subsequently asked that the six contenders submit best-and-final bids.
RFTs will now be issued to the same six contenders which originally responded to the request for proposals issued in May, notably Boeing (offering the F/A-18C/D), Dassault (Mirage 2000-5), Israel Aircraft Industries (Kfir 2000), Lockheed Martin (F-16C/D), MAPO-MIG (MiG-29 Fulcrum) and British Aerospace/Saab (JAS39 Gripen).
An unsolicited Taiwanese proposal based on the Ching-Kuo Indigenous Defence Fighter has been rejected. Sources suggest that the terms of the RFT will almost certainly take into account the recent devaluation of the Philippine currency and may ask for pricing on a smaller number of aircraft than the original 24 fighters specified.
Suppliers will also be expected to make proposals on counter-trade and industrial concessions, with the Philippines seeking a minimum of 50% offset. Philippine defence planners have managed partially to insulate themselves from the recent Asian currency crisis, which has seen the peso slide from 25 to 34 to the dollar. The 164.5 billion peso ($4.68 billion) defence-modernisation budget, from which the fighter programme will be funded, was calculated on an exchange rate of 30 pesos to the dollar.
With presidential elections scheduled for May, however, it appears increasingly unlikely that a final selection can be made before the end of Ramos' term in office. A decision will then rest with one of six presidential hopefuls, which could push the process well into 1998.
Source: Flight International
